Community champion June receives British Empire Medal in New Year Honours

Our Donnington Wood store's fantastic community champion June Walker says she was totally shocked when she found out that she was to be awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours.

June's been recognised by the Queen for everything she's done to help the local community during the pandemic, but says the award came as a total surprise.

She said: "I got a voicemail asking me to call someone from the Cabinet Office and at first I thought ' Who do I owe money to?' I was really shocked at first, because I'm just doing my job.

"I'm very proud and very humbled to receive such an honour. I love my job – I live and breathe it.

"I love helping out in the community. I love meeting new people and I love making people smile. It costs nothing, does it."

June, who's been the store's community champion for 11 years, is one of nine Asda colleagues recognised in the New Year Honours. She says the award is a great way to end what's been a really difficult year for so many people.

She said: "After the year we've all had it's good to end it on something nice. With Covid it has been challenging few months as I'm used to being out and about in the community, but it has been nice staying in store and finding our more about my colleagues and the strengths and talents that they have got.

"My husband, Matthew, is very proud of me. He thinks it's lovely that I've been recognised for going above and beyond my job role."