A QUARTER peal of bells rang out across Old Town on New Year’s Eve in honour of Margaret Williams MBE.

Simon Stevenette, the church’s vicar, decided the bells were the best way to recognise the achievements of the church’s 83-year-old lay minister, who was named in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

At 9.30am, the tones could be heard ringing from the church she has served in for 40 years.

Margaret, a retired headteacher formerly of Lainesmead and Oliver Tomkins primary schools, was recognised for her services to the Diocese of Bristol and the Swindon community.

Mr Stevenette said: “I was absolutely overjoyed for her.

“There’s so much energy in her, her vision is remarkable and such a passion for teaching.

“In my 16 years here I have witnessed her incredible capacity to speak to children, young adults and adults of all ages. She is an incredible storyteller.

“She has a passion for life and people.

“The majority of people would retire from ministry round about 75 or 80-years-old, but she’s 83 and full of beans.

“Margaret is a very humble, joyful person. She says ‘why me?’ – she has got no idea just how much we all think of her.”

She worked with Lainesmead from 1973 until 1980 and then became the first headteacher at Oliver Tomkins before retiring in 1991, when she turned her full attention to lay ministry.

The Sandown Avenue resident was the first female lay minister the Diocese of Bristol has ever had.