Retired head teacher Elizabeth Morris has spoken of her pride after she was presented with an OBE by Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, at Buckingham Palace.
Mrs Morris, 61, of Wooldale, was a teacher in Kirklees for 40 years and spent the last 25 years as head at Netherton Infant and Nursery School.
She was awarded the OBE for services to education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June and attended the palace investiture with 82 other recipients on Friday.
Mrs Morris, accompanied by husband Ray, 65, said the whole experience was fabulous and added: “It was a real honour.
“The Duke was really warm and very approachable and had obviously taken the time to find out about all those he was meeting.”
The only problem was the Duke had to bow to Mrs Morris, rather than the other way round!
The Duke was standing on a dais, or podium, while diminutive Mrs Morris is only just over 5ft tall in stocking feet.
“The Duke is already a foot taller than me and the dais made him taller still,” said Mrs Morris.
“I was wearing heels but even so the Duke still had a good conversation with my hat. He had to bend down but was very good humoured about it.”
Mr and Mrs Morris spent a few days in the capital and were able to see the ceramic poppies at the Tower of London.
Mrs Morris, who had also taught at Berry Brow Infants and Nursery School and Old Bank First School in Mirfield, spent several years as a science and technology advisor, visiting most primary schools in Kirklees.
She also worked closely with helping troubled older pupils get back on the right track.
She was nominated for the award by former Honley High School teacher Richard Sykes, of Honley. Mr Sykes and his wife Kath went to the palace as Mrs Morris’s guests.
Mrs Morris, who suffered a slight stroke in October last year and retired in August, told how news of the OBE – which came in a letter from the Prime Minister in May – proved an emotional moment.
“It was a total shock and I just burst into tears,” she said. “It may sound odd but it was that my mother and father and a dear friend weren’t here to enjoy it with me.”
Mrs Morris dedicated her award to her late parents May and Bert Brook. “They made me what I am,” she said.
Mrs Morris has no children of her own and plans to leave her medal to Netherton school.
