‘‘OUT of this world.’’
That’s how Huddersfield woman Joan Morton described her visit to Buckingham Palace to receive her MBE.
Mrs Morton, 66, from Milnsbridge, met Prince Charles and pop princess Kylie Minogue during her visit to the palace on Thursday.
She said: “It was absolutely fantastic, amazing, out of this world. It is the first time I have been to the Palace and probably the last.
“I wasn’t disappointed that it was not the Queen presenting and the prince instead.
“He was a charming man. He appeared to be interested in everything people told him. I was nervous, but he was fantastic and spoke to us for quite a length of time.”
Mrs Morton received her MBE in the New Year’s Honours for her service to the Huddersfield community over the past 40 years.
She has been a Beaver Scout leader for 22 years and a Sunday school leader for 20.
She has worked voluntarily for the Church of England’s Wakefield Diocese and was one of the founding members of the Golcar Lily Day village celebrations several years ago.
She has also been a school governor for 12 years at Crow Lane Junior and Infant School in Milnsbridge and Cowlersley Primary School.
Mrs Morton has also been a Victim Support worker, helping the victims of crime, for five years.
She said: “Everything I have done has been fun. It’s not done for rewards; I like helping people, especially children.
“It is nice to know that the people who nominated me think so highly of me, but it is a bit embarrassing!”
Mrs Morton was nominated for her MBE by different people from the organisations she has worked with.
She travelled to the Palace with husband Brian, son Adam, 35, and his wife Yvonne.
Mrs Morton said: “It was a really lovely atmosphere. It was nice for all the family and Yvonne was really pleased that I met Kylie Minogue.
“She was wonderful, she was there as a recipient just like everybody else and was just as excited. She chatted to people; there was nothing of a diva quality about her.”
Kylie, 40, was receiving an OBE for services to music and the arts.
