A CHOIR member at a Greenock church has hit a high note after being awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Eleanor McKay sings at St John's Church and was over the moon to receive royal recognition.

She was met with a round of applause on Sunday from the congregation, after Reverend Willi Nesbitt mentioned it in the church notices.

Eleanor, 56, said: "Willi made me stand up and I received a round of applause.

"We wear red cassocks and my face was the same colour!"

Eleanor started singing at the church through organist Peter Christie who previously played at St Bride's Church in Glasgow where she sang.

She said: "I started going to St John's once a month but tried to help out more regularly as the choir is quite small.

"They're a lovely congregation.

"Everyone has been so supportive and they have done so well with the whole Covid situation."

Eleanor says she is delighted that restrictions on singing in church have finally been eased.

She said: "The restrictions eased on Music Sunday, which was appropriate, so the congregation can now join in but have to keep on their masks.

"Willi herself has been a huge support.

"She is so welcoming and very appreciative of the musical contributions to the service.

"It’s nice to have her join in the singing now as well as the congregation."

Eleanor, who lives in Innellan with her husband Norrie, received the MBE for her work as a librarian.

She said: "I received it for my work on the local studies side, particularly the WW1 commemorations.

"I was overwhelmed - I still am.

"When you do your job you don't expect something like this.

"It's quite incredible, I was thunderstruck."

A CHOIR member at a Greenock church has hit a high note after being awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Eleanor McKay sings at St John's Church and was over the moon to receive the honour.

She said she was met with a round of applause on Sunday from the congregation, after Reverend Willi Nesbitt mentioned it in the church notices.

Eleanor, 56, said: "Willi made me stand up and I received a round of applause.

"We wear red cassocks and my face was the same colour."

Eleanor started singing at the church through organist Peter Christie who previously played at St Bride's Church in Glasgow where she sang.

She said: "I started going to St John's once a month but because the choir was so small I visited more regularly.

"They're a lovely congregation. Everyone has been so supportive and have done so well with the whole Covid situation."

Eleanor said she was delighted that restrictions on singing in church.

She said: "Because you were only allowed one person to sing - I was the cantor for St John's.

"The restrictions eased a week past Sunday, on Music Sunday which was appropriate, so the congregation can now join in with the choir but have to keep on their masks.

"Willi herself has been a huge support.

"She is so welcoming and very appreciative of the musical contributions to the service. It’s nice to have her join in the singing now as well as the congregation."

Eleanor who lives in Innellan with her husband Norrie received the MBE for her work as a Bibliographic and local studies librarian with the Live Argyll Leisure and Libraries Trust.

She said: "I received it for my work on the local studies side particularly the WW1 commemorations.

"I was overwhelmed - I still am. When you do your job - you don't expect something like this. It's quite incredible. I was thunderstruck.

"It's amazing in that way and it's lovely for libraries."