SHE’S been helping people for more than 40 years.

Now community stalwart Alda Flowers has received the ultimate accolade from the country of her birth.

Alda, who came to Huddersfield from Jamaica in the 1960s, has been given the Jamaican Diaspora Award for Excellence – the equivalent of an OBE.

Alda, who worked as nursing sister at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for most of her career, was the only person in the UK to receive the award this year.

The honour comes after decades of tireless work helping people – especially fellow Jamaicans in the UK.

She has been the driving force behind the Jamaica National Council in Huddersfield since its inception in 1979 and is also on the boards of the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service and the National Children’s Centre.

The Fartown woman was summoned to the Caribbean by the Governor General Sir Patrick Allen to be presented the award in front of hundreds of guests at a prestigious ceremony in Ocho Rios.

Alda, who is continuing her volunteering despite being in her 70s, said the award made her “very proud” but said she hadn’t set out for any recognition.

She said: “I don’t like to sit back when somebody needs help.

“If I can’t give advice I will find somebody who can.

“It’s very good to get this award but I just do things that need doing.

“If somebody benefits from it I don’t really think about it.

“It was the community both here and in Jamaica who thought I needed an award.”

Alda moved to the UK in a bid to pursue her dream of helping others as a nurse.