Margaret (Maggie) Tighe, now based in Manchester, received her honour, given for services to HM Revenue and Customs, from the Prince of Wales.

Born in St Andrews and raised in Strathmiglo, Maggie is one of six children of Jimmy and Bridget Tighe.

Her siblings Maureen, Bridget, Kathleen, Ann and James remain well-known in the village and regularly used the family home for holidays until it was sold recently.

Maggie attended Strathmiglo Primary School and Cupar's Bell Baxter High School before nannying in Belgium and then obtaining a BA (Hons) in Humanities at Teesside University.

She joined HM Customs and Excise, spending 13 years in Newcastle upon Tyne before moving to Manchester where she is currently a senior investigation officer.

Her investiture added to a full year in which she obtained a second degree, a BSC (Hons) in Counter Fraud and Criminal Justice Studies from Portsmouth University following a four-year distance learning course.

Maggie said the ceremony itself was quite nerve-wracking, but exciting as well.

"It was awe-inspiring to be inside the palace and all the palace officials made you feel extremely special," she said.

"Prince Charles himself was very engaging and easy to talk to.

"He appeared genuinely interested in every single person and why they were receiving their award."

Since leaving Strathmiglo at the age of 18, Maggie has travelled extensively throughout Europe, Africa and Asia, but she intends to return to Fife when the time comes for retirement.