A volunteer who listens to children reading at Great Chesterford Primary School, helps out at the school’s breakfast club and the toddler group Chestertots, has received an award from the village’s parish council.

Terrie Lewis answered an advertisement by the Chestertots Committee three years ago saying they wanted to “adopt a granny” to help them out.

Tiffany Drake, a committee member at the time, told the Reporter: “Terrie was the only person to respond. We thought we obviously couldn’t expect her to be there every week but she came along the following Thursday morning and has been there almost every week since.”

Councillor Neil Gregory, chairman of the Parish Council, presented Terrie with a certificate, a bouquet of flowers and a garden voucher.

Terrie said: “I felt truly humbled to receive the award. I have written to the parish council to thank them, and thank you to anyone who nominated me. I do not deserve an award. I just do these things because I love being with the children.”

Tiffany added: “Terrie is dearly loved by the mums and nannies who attend Chestertots.

“When the call was put out for helpers at the school breakfast club Terrie jumped at the opportunity.

“She said it was on the same day as Chestertots and would we mind if she came straight from one to the other (still arriving early).

“She attends school concerts and plays even though she has no relatives at the school, showing the delight she takes in the children she works with and her dedication to supporting them in all they do. She is also a doting real-life grandma, as well as our adopted one, so we are lucky and privileged that she shares her time with children in our village.

“She is always smiling, happy, positive and kind. If we could clone her, all world problems would be instantly solved. She is a true champion of community life.”