A PENSIONER awarded an MBE in the New Year's honours list today relived her day at the palace and said: "I still don't think I deserve it!"

Betty Barker travelled to Buckingham Palace to receive her 'gong' from Prince Charles.

Betty, who lives in Waddington Road, Clitheroe, was nominated by bosses at Oxfam. She has worked for them as a volunteer since retiring at the age of 60.

As well as running the charity's Clitheroe shop in Castle Street, Betty has also been a treasurer of the Nelson and Burnley branches.

Betty, a former radiographer, said she had the shock of her life when Prince Charles seemed to know all about her work!

She said: "He is very good at making you feel at ease. We were called up one at a time and he had a little chat with each of us.

"He seemed to know all about what I did for Oxfam, and that the Clitheroe shop is one of the most successful, which was really nice. I have always had a lot of respect for Prince Charles and meeting him was wonderful.

"I only found out a few weeks before the exact day I had to go, and was completely dumbfounded by the whole thing."

She added: "It was a day out I'll never forget, but I kept thinking to myself that I didn't deserve to be there.

"It has never felt like I was doing anything special doing what I did for Oxfam, because I have enjoyed it so much.

"You certainly don't do something thinking you might get rewarded for it.

"I still have to pinch myself to believe it really happened."

Betty's honour was made possible by a change in the procedure for the awarding of gongs which took place in the 1990s, allowing people to nominate 'ordinary' members of the public for awards. Betty, whose late husband was well-known jazz pianist Stan Barker, added: "There were people there who had done all sorts of things, like saving post offices, and to hear their stories was wonderful.

"I kept looking around thinking 'I can't believe I'm here at the Palace.' There weren't really any celebrities there on the day I went, apart from Rosemary Conley."

The diet expert has also been recognised for her achievements in the Queen's New Year's honours.

Betty's son, Alistair, is 45.