Selkirk Parish Church minister, the Reverend Jim Campbell, presented Miss Lawrie with a pen from the choir and choirmistress Mary Rowell on Sunday.

The octogenarian first started singing in the Congregational Church (now URC) when she was about 10 years old.

During the Second World War her family moved to the West Church then, when it closed, they moved to the St Mary’s West. When it shut its doors she moved to the Parish Church where she has remained active for 22 years.

“All my years with the choirs have been memorable – they’ve been super,” Miss Lawrie told The Wee Paper.

Asked what she enjoyed about singing in choirs, Miss Lawrie, aged 89, said: “I just liked it.”

An alto, she is fond of all the hymns she knows, but has a soft spot for Christmas hymns and carols – choosing Still the Night as her favourite.

Miss Lawrie also occasionally sang in a dance band, Alex Arres and His Band, in the pre-war years until her mother took her aside.

“She said ‘look, you’ll have to make up your mind – are you going to sing in the choir or the dance band?’

“She didn’t think I should be doing both – I suppose it wasn’t done in those days.”

Rev Campbell said: “Margaret has given a lifetime’s service to enriching the worship of the Church.

“As well as her musical contribution, Margaret’s friendly and outgoing personality has made her many friends. Margaret has a wonderful sense of fun and laughter is never far away when she is around.”

Miss Lawrie also performed in Selkirk Opera from 1936 to 1965.

But she had three years without singing when she served with the ATS in London from 1943 to 1946.