Borehamwood has faced its share of bad news stories this year, so we decided to recap on five of the most positive and happiest ones that made us smile.

READ: Review of the year 2016

From a Borehamwood foster mother given an MBE to a controversial sign in a restaurant window advertising free condoms... this year certainly has not been boring.

Here's our top five stories:

Jacqui Barnett, Borehamwood, has been made an MBE in the New Year Honours List 2016

Borehamwood Times:

Jacqueline Barnett, 80, from Haggerston Road, Borehamwood, started foster caring in 1958 and has only just retired in September 2015.

As part of the New Year’s Honours, Mrs Barnett was made an MBE for her work in the foster care sector.

Mr Barnett said: “I don’t know how I feel. I do feel proud as foster caring is always something that I have done.

“I never understand why you have to be awarded for doing something good but I do feel proud and so do my family. I do sometimes think that I perhaps don’t deserve it.”

Mrs Barnett had been foster caring for so long that two babies she looked after until they were in their teens now come back to visit with their own children.

'We wanted to cheer people up': Sign in window given mixed views

Borehamwood Times:

As Valentine’s Day approached, Mirzan Restaurant, in Aycliffe Road, Borehamwood, decided to place a sign in their window offering a ‘free condom for couples’.

The restaurant, which is well-known in the area, put the sign in their window to make people smile and to cheer them up but it is not for everyone.

Erdal Olcay, owner of the restaurant, said: “I don’t think it is inappropriate because condoms are being sold in the shops and sex is being taught in schools.

“It is just to make people smile and we wanted to cheer people up and to make them happy. It is not supposed to be rude.”

Even in a poll on our website more than 70 per cent of people said the sign was inappropriate.

Men take part in charity cycle from Paris to London on a tandem

Borehamwood Times:

Howard Ash, 40, from Madresfield Court, Shenley and Spencer Richman, 37, from Finchley, decided to take part in the cycle to raise money for Guts in Motion, a charity which researches Crohn’s and Colitis in children.

Michael Seres, from Radlett, founded the Guts in Motion charity five years ago and the cycle has become an annual event for anyone to take part in.

Elstree & Borehamwood train station and partners shortlisted for community awards

Borehamwood Times:

Thameslink's Elstree & Borehamwood train station was shortlisted for the It's Your Station category of the Association of Community Rail (ACORP) Awards and looks at the station gardens and environments.

Elstree & Borehamwood station was shortlisted for a gold award by ACORP. In recent years, community group “First Impressions” has transformed Elstree and Borehamwood station, to ensure it reflects the community and its rich film heritage.

From wall sculptures, heritage panels, the start of a Film and TV Heritage Trail and a new welcome wall, to planters, all served by an environmentally-friendly water butt, this group has been trying hard to make the location somewhere people want to go.

Although it did not win it is still a brilliant achievement for everyone involved in making the station look as good as it can.

Rickie and Carly Hicks, from Borehamwood, reunited with ambulance crew who saved child's life

Borehamwood Times:

Rickie and Carly Hicks, of Allerton Road, Borehamwood, were reunited with the ambulance crew who saved the life of their six-month-old daughter who contracted meningitis.

Mr Hicks said: "Without a doubt they have made a difference to our lives; to say that day was scary was an understatement, it was the worst thing I have experienced.

"If it was not for them, our lives would be completely different."

Are there any other happy stories you remember throughout 2016? Comment below or email steven.brown@london.newsquest.co.uk.