A FRIEND of women in rural communities has been celebrating after featuring in the New Years Honours list.

Audrey Totty, 80, of Breary Lane East, Arthington, has just received an MBE for her work as President of the Yorkshire Countrywomen's Association (YCA).

Mrs Totty spent New Year's Day celebrating with family and friends who were delighted, if a little surprised, to hear the news.

Mrs Totty said: "One of my daughters read it in the paper and she was straight on the phone.

"She said 'Now I know why we are having a party.'"

The YCA was the brainchild of Mrs Totty 20 years ago when the Women's Institute was forced to split.

Mrs Totty said: "When the boundaries in Yorkshire were changed from the Ridings, it was for administration purposes, not geographical reasons.

"Yorkshire was still Yorkshire and we really didn't want to split. The feeling against it was overwhelming.

"Sadly the groups were split so I decided we could go it alone."

And so in 1983 Mrs Totty formed the YCA.

She said: "I had a lot of help of course, and now we are going from strength to strength.

"We have new branches forming and new members joining all the time."

Mrs Totty puts the success of the YCA down to low subscription fees and a friendly atmosphere.

"An awful lot of friendships have been formed at our monthly meetings.

"I know personally I have made many friends," Mrs Totty said.

Meeting people and getting out to events can be a daunting and difficult experience for women in rural areas, and groups like the YCA can make socialising a little easier.

Mrs Totty said: "It can be lonely, particularly if you are a woman on your own and also the cost of activities can be off putting.

"Many of our members are pensioners so we think it is important to keep costs low."

Aside from monthly meetings which involve a speaker or demonstrator talking on any subject imaginable, the YCA hold county events which include an autumn rally and gardeners day.

Now Mrs Totty is looking forward to a year as good as the last year has been.

"I'm a bit shattered by it all really.

"It was a terrific shock to find out about the MBE and then the house has been very busy too," she said.

"Having the MBE won't make any difference to me.

"But it has made a difference to the post and the amount of phone calls I'm getting!"

Friend and fellow member Nancy Nuttall said Mrs Totty was a very deserving recipient of the honour.

"I've known her for about 12 or 13 years. she is a wonderful person and is absolutely deserving of the award."

Miss Nuttall said Mrs Totty was a very devoted president of the association and worked hard to get to all the celebrations of every branch.

"She has given so much time over the years. she is a very capable lady, a good handywoman and very creative."

Every year Mrs Totty is the driving force behind the Hawksworth branch's autumn fayre.

"Last year she made a hundred cakes with the help of the Hawksworth branch. They all get together in her kitchen and all have their own chores," said Miss Nuttall.

In addition, Mrs Totty holds a coffee morning once a year at her holiday home near Whitby when members come from far and wide to attend.

"She has done an awful lot to keep the women folks happy. So many who are widowed are left on their own, but they still have so much to give," added Miss Nuttall.