Jean Messenger, together with her husband Mike, daughter, Tammy and son Kevin went to Buckingham Palace on Friday, May 21 to receive her MBE from the Prince of Wales.

Jean elated: "Everything about the day was perfect, arriving on a lovely sunny day to find the family there to meet us, the beautiful palace with everyone very

welcoming, making me feel very special, meeting the other recipients, and culminated when more family arrived to be there when we came out, cheering us, I felt even more special."

The Prince of Wales commented that she would need to be very

active to run the Bude After School Club and expressed surprise at the number of working hours necessary to run the club both during the term and throughout the school holidays, saying he was glad all her work had been recognised by the investing of the award.

Despite being coached on the etiquette involved in receiving the investiture, Jean said she had not rehearsed curtseying and walking backwards away from the prince — trying to do both at the same time could have ended in disaster!

She said: "Among the interesting other recipients I met, were two soldiers receiving the Military Cross and an army nurse having just come back from Afghanistan, the Rev Mark Edwards who had written a book about his life in care, a lady who received an OBE for her volunteer work with the elderly, and many more from all walks of life!"

She said that the MBE was really awarded to her family: "All their love and support and being so much involved with all I have done and for also my colleagues and friends. But most importantly the MBE is for God as He called me to work with children and over time, as an answer to prayer, He opened the series of doors that lead to the formation of the Bude After School Club.

"I spent the rest of the weekend visiting other family members and friends. A wonderful occasion to treasure for many years to come."