AN inspirational lady who has devoted her life to the local community has been awarded the British Empire Medal.

Fay Rogers trained as a doctor and worked as an anaesthetist at Inverclyde Royal.

She also served as a Liberal councillor and was a community councillor in Gourock for many years.

The modest 90-year-old was presented with the award by the Lord-Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, Guy Clark, at a reception. 

Dr Rogers, of Preston Place, said: “Provost Robert Moran couldn’t have been nicer and put on a reception in the grand corridor. I feel very privileged to get the medal but I don’t understand why I have been given it.

“I have never worked for money or medals.”

Dr Rogers also championed the cause of women and was an active member of the local Soroptimists organisation.

She said: “I have promoted the role of women around the world with the Soroptimists. Women are trusted with running the household and looking after children, so why not with a career? I just wanted women to be recognised for doing a job well.”

Former councillor Alan Blair was a friend and colleague with Fay on the council.

He said: “Fay was a consultant anaesthetist at Inverclyde Royal for many years and served on the council during a period of Liberal control.

“She was very feisty and very bright and would stand up to anybody and always had an interesting point of view.

“This award is very much deserved because she has devoted so many years of her life doing of unpaid community work. It is an award she is entitled to.”

Born Fay Quigley, the senior citizen hails from Belville Street in the east end and wanted to become a doctor when she was only three.

She quipped: “My brother had scarlet fever and when a doctor came to the house I asked him to mend my dolly. He said he didn’t treat dollies so I decided that I was going to make all the dollies in Greenock better!”

Dr Rogers attended St Laurence’s Primary and St Columba’s High School in Peat Road in Greenock.

She went on to study science at Glasgow University, encouraged by her teacher

After graduating she was ‘called up’ to work in a patent office in London but never gave up her dream of becoming a doctor.

Four years later she returned home and started a degree in medicine back at Glasgow.

After graduating she spent her career in Inverclyde and married her beloved late husband Andrew, a sailor, in 1956 and the couple moved to Gourock three years later.

She said: “I am extremely proud about the award.

“I just wanted to do a job that was needed where I live.”