Shirley was awarded an MBE in the 2007 New Year's Honours List for Services to Music. The award was presented by HRH The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on May 8th 2007.

In the same year she was also made Master of the University, an Honorary Degree awarded by the Open University for Notable Contribution to Education and Culture.

Shirley is currently patron of South East Folk Arts Network and  Folk South West.

Shirley received a Good Tradition Award at the 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. It was presented to her by Graham Coxon of Blur. Along with John McCusker on fiddle, Graham sang Shirley's version of Just As The Tide Was A-Flowin' in tribute. 

Shirley is the holder of the English Folk Dance and Song Society's Gold Badge, and has recently been elected President of the Society. After her success at the South Bank this Spring with the "Folk Roots, New Routes" series of performances she has been made an Associate Artist of the South Bank.

d to know you.