A LONG-SERVING West Fife guider has been rewarded for her efforts with the organisation as she celebrated her 80th birthday.

Susan Laird picked up a Special Service Award in Girlguiding after a massive four decades of volunteering with local groups.

Having celebrated her 80th birthday in July, Susan still helps out with the 1st Dalgety Bay Brownies ever week and still is heavily involved in the work of the district.

Susan started off working in the Ranger unit and soon became a Ranger Leader and took part in many international and national camps over the years including one in Canada and one in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

She achieved an adult Duke of Edinburgh challenge in her late 60s and has taken girls to London on many occasions where once they fulfilled the role of marshalls at a Thinking Day service in Westminster Abbey.

This month, she was part of a team that took Guides and Brownies to the Carmichael Centre in Balmullo.

When Susan turned 65, it was Girlguiding policy to step back from the organisation. She wrote to complain to Girlguiding and explained she was not ready to give up and the policy was changed a few months later.

Following the presentation of her award, many people involved in the Girlguiding have paid tribute to the West Fife stalwart.

Lesley Rowntree, 1st Brownie Leader, said: "She's a fantastic asset to our Brownies."

And Louise McCracken, one of Susan's former Rangers and now a Ranger Leader, added: "Such a lovely recognition for everything she has done for Guiding."

Lynda Searle, friend and former leader with Aberdour and Dalgety Bay Guiding, said: "It is impossible to sum up Susan in words. Lots and lots of the young people she has been involved with still keep in touch with her, a great compliment and one she values greatly."

Ranger leader Elaine Dove said: "You could say that one of things she's very proud of is that many of the girls who have been through her units have gone on to become Guide Leaders themselves and carry on the mantle so to speak."

Susan received the special service award from County Commissioner Janice Spence at a celebration to mark her birthday.

District Commissioner Amanda Logan said it was difficult to quantify what Susan means to fellow volunteers and the Girlguiding organisation.

"She has the biggest smile and the loudest laugh," she said. "She is dedicated to giving her best to Guiding, our girls and volunteers. She makes us all laugh with her words of wisdom and her thoughts on new policies and paperwork!

"Susan is just a total legend and a true guiding treasure. This is such a lovely honour for Susan and we, as a district, are super proud of her achievement."