A PROUD pensioner has won an MBE more than 50 years after her father was awarded a CBE.

Helen Locke, 80, has lived in Durham Avenue, Bromley, for 45 years. She was decorated for her work with the Bromley

and district branch of the Association of the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRENS).

Her father, Gordon Boulter, received a CBE in 1945 for his work as a chief engineer during the First and Second World Wars.

Mrs Locke said: "I shall be celebrating with my Wren pals, but I feel that many of them deserve an MBE far more than I do. I know my husband, children and four grandchildren are all delighted about the award."

Mrs Locke was a founder member of the Wrens which raises money for national and local charities, and celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Over the years she has been chairman and secretary of the Bromley Wrens, and has worked as a welfare officer for 20 years.

Mrs Locke has been married to Laurie, 87, for 54 years and has two children, Maggie and Jeff as well as four grandchildren. Her fundraising efforts have meant that over the years her home has often looked like an off-licence or a flower shop. Mrs Locke explained: "For years the Bromley Wrens have run the bottle stall at St Cecilia's, so donations from many local firms had to be collected up and labelled. By mid-June I had boxes full of bottles all over the lounge.

"Then in September, the house would be full of trays of poppies ready for sale in Bromley's effort to raise money for Poppy Day."

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