Multi-lingual 84-yearold Zena Mozil uses her talent for languages, alongside her energy and drive, to help her be a focal point for many parts of the Shipley community.

She has lived in Shipley since leaving war-torn Poland and Ukraine in 1947 and helps her huge social network of people with different nationalities through being able to communicate in English, Polish, Russian, Italian, Ukrainian and German.

Zena, who cared for her husband for 17 years after he became disabled following a stroke, does shopping or a 75-year-old disabled neighbour and has also carried out years of voluntary service with the Polish Club.

She said: “I can’t believe it, I’m shocked and I would like to thank everybody who nominated me, especially Shipley Labour Club because all my friends there voted for me, as well as all my neighbours. I always try my best because I like to help people.”