A FORMER Blackpool nurse has been awarded an MBE for her services to the community.

Phyllis Hardman, from Lancaster Road, Knott End, received the award at an investiture at Buckingham Palace where she met the Prince of Wales.

She chairs the governors at Carter's charity school in Preesall and serves on a series of local authority committees. Phyllis has also been the vice-chairman of the Fylde's community health council and spent 16 years on the rail travel watchdog committee for the North West, the Rail Users' Consultative Committee, for which she was deputy and acting chairman.

But Prince Charles had only one thing to say to Phyllis at the ceremony: "How have you managed to fit it all into your life?"

To which she replied: "With great difficulty."

She said her husband Frank and daughters Margaret and Angela attended the ceremony, which was held in the palace's ornate ballroom.

Afterwards they all attended a lunch at Sir Richard Branson's Knightsbridge flat, having received his knighthood at the same ceremony.

Phyllis said: "It really was a superb and memorable day and Charles was very open and easy to talk to -- in fact he was a real Prince Charming."

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