By RUTH LOGNONNE

Published at 09:54, Friday, 27 March 2009

THE driving force behind a Tynedale heritage centre was given royal honours on Tuesday.

Dorothy Bell (pictured), who with her husband, Jim, founded Bellingham's Heritage Centre, received her MBE from the Lord Lieutenant, of Northumberland Captain Iain Moffit, at County Hall in Morpeth.

The Heritage Centre began when Dorothy came across a box of old photographs belonging to her husband’s aunts.

She realised a lot of local history was disappearing, and discovered that others in the village felt the same. A committee was formed, and the result is now a highly regarded museum which pulls in thousands of visitors every year.

Dorothy said this week: “The afternoon was really nice. A lot of my friends and relatives turned up and all the officials were in full regalia.”

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk