AN AIRSHOW director from Charlton, near Malmesbury, has been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list with an MBE.

Amanda Butcher was given the honour for her exceptional work supporting charities over the last 30 years and will go on to receive her award from a member of the royal family in the coming months.

From a military family Mrs Butcher joined the Royal Air Force after earning a degree in Pure Mathematics and Chemistry at Exeter University and had been at 13 different schools by the time she finished her O-Levels.

After initially applying to be an engineer she ended up in administrative role before rising to more technical posts and eventually working with the security services.

She was a member of the Air Tattoo volunteer team and towards the end of her military career was promoted to the rank of wing commander, specialising in computer and communications security matters.

After leaving the service she spent seven years as the deputy director of the Royal International Air Tattoo before becoming the CEO of the Jubilee Sailing Trust, a charity that teaches disabled and non-disabled people to crew and sail tall ships.

After leaving the Jubilee Sailing Trust, she returned as a consultant for the RAF Cosford Air Shows from 2012 to 2014 and now works as the interim director of the RAF Charitable Trust.

She said that she was delighted to be honoured and thanked the RAF for nominating her 20 years after she left the forces.

She said: "I was completely flabbergasted, as I imagine most people are when the get the letter.

"It is fantastic but I didn't do it for the recognition. It's just the icing on the cake really.

"Whether it's an MBE or anything else only one person gets it but it was always a team effort."

In her spare time Mrs Butcher is a Girl Guide leader, a keen gardener and a regular lecturer on cruise ships.