Blackman, has been awarded the title of Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

She was formally presented with the MBE by Governor Thorold Masefield at Government House on Thursday night.

Lady Blackman, who now lives in Barbados, was the first woman to serve in the penultimate position for Independent Senators in the Upper House. She also founded the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Group and held the positions of Social Services director, Berkeley Institute Management Committee chairperson and served on the Defence Board.

She was also involved in a number of charity groups and was a founding member of both the Committee of Six and the Bermuda Mental Health Foundation and presided as president of Meals on Wheels.

And Lady Blackman was a member of the Silver Jubilee Trust, the Salvation Army's Advisory Board, the Sunshine League Children's Home Board and the Girl Guides Association.

Her professional career included 20 years as a public school teacher, head of remedial department, school psychologist intern, and assistant professor of the doctoral student programme at Adelphi University.

She also served as school psychologist for Bermuda's Education Department where her duties involved diagnostic evaluations, clinical assessments, counselling and therapeutic services.

The mother of three is an avid golfer and swimmer and is married to former Barbadian Cabinet Secretary Sir Frank Blackman.