A COMMUNITY-SPIRITED pensioner has died days before she was due to collect her MBE from Buckingham Palace.
Doreen Swift, 90, from Hartlepool, was awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List for her services to West Hartlepool Old Age Pensioner's Welfare Association.
She was assistant secretary of Hartlepool and District Football League until the mid 1980s.
Mrs Swift - who was also known as Nellie - leaves a son Brian, one grandchild and three great-grandchildren. Her family will be officially presented with the MBE at the palace later in the year.
The funeral takes place tomorrow at St James' Church in Hartlepool.
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