The 75-year-old grandmother, who was the town's civic head in 1998-99 and again in 2004-05, was presented with a written citation from current Town Mayor Shirley Matthews before a packed audience in Swaffham's Assembly Rooms.

Mrs Buxton was unanimously chosen by town councillors from four nominations for the prestigious position. Her name will be added to those of Lieutenant Colonel Saul Harris, 202 Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers), Jack Boddy, Colonel John Boag and Mrs Toni Groom.

Mrs Matthews said that Mrs Buxton retired to Swaffham with her late husband Laurie in 1987 after both had spent their working years teaching in London.

"They chose Swaffham because Pam has spent a fair amount of time here during her lifetime visiting an aunt," she explained.

"Since retiring, she has spent ten years as either chairman or secretary of Swaffham Arts, which is no mean achievement as it involved producing a week-long programme of events every year.

"She has also spread her wisdom, experience and secretarial ability around many organisations of the more vulnerable members of our society... and her tremendous experience in the world of education has been of enormous help to Hamond's High School, as a governor there for the last 13 years."

The mayor said Mrs Buxton had also been secretary to the Iceni Partnership for six or seven years. "This was an enormous job which took us through the actual establishment of the partnership – a bureaucratic nightmare – and then through the turmoil of the regeneration programme," she said.

Mrs Buxton served for about 20 years on the town council, specialising in health and transport issues, and during one spell as mayor welcomed Swaffham's twinning clubs in their own French and German languages, Mrs Matthews recalled.

"This self-effacing lady has served this town with natural dignity and grace," she added.

Thanking the council for the honour, Mrs Buxton said she was "absolutely overwhelmed" and sorry that her husband and her aunt, who died last year aged 102, were not still with her to see it. "She would have been so proud."

Representatives from many of the town's 100-plus organisations joined Norfolk's new High Sheriff Viscountess Knollys, Baroness Shephard, South West Norfolk MP Christopher Fraser, Norfolk County Council chairman Michael Carttiss, mayors from surrounding authorities and local armed forces chiefs at Friday's reception.

Mrs Matthews told them the purpose of the evening was "to thank you for your contribution to the life of this lovely town of ours".