ROYLE Family star Sue Johnston received yesterday the insignia of the OBE from the Queen and said she suspected the monarch was “not a fan of the series”.
The 65-year-old Warrington-born actress said: “I doubt she watches it. I bet William and Harry do though. But I don’t think it would be quite her thing.”
It was a bittersweet day for Johnston who said both her parents, who were no longer alive, as “traditionalists” would have been more proud of the award than any of her many film, TV and theatre successes.
“When I got the letter I got quite emotional because I wanted to tell my parents and I couldn’t. Of all the things I’ve done this would have been the best for them.”
Johnston later said she and the Queen had discussed her charity work: “She said I managed to combine acting work with charity and I said I liked to be able to give something back.”
The actress works with a number of smaller charities including Kirsty’s Appeal in Manchester which raises money for Francis House Children’s Hospice and Haringey Shed, a theatre project which gives young people with disabilities the opportunity to perform with others.
“You just do what you are asked to do and the smaller ones usually need it more. Haringey Shed is particularly close to my heart because of the way they have helped my god-daughter who has autism. It is so vital for those kids.”
Port Vale Football Club chairman William Bratt was also at Buckingham Palace to collect the insignia of the MBE.
He worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help ensure the Stoke-on-Trent club’s survival since becoming chairman more than six years ago.
He led a supporters’ consortium in 2003 to rescue Port Vale from the threat of bankruptcy.
He said: “When I got the letter I thought it was a wind-up at first. I was a bit embarrassed. You do things because you care and I have been a Port Vale supporter all my life so you don’t expect something like this.”
Lieutenant Michael Paulet, of the Royal Navy, received the Air Force Cross for his bravery during the rescue of the crew of the ferry Riverdance.
He helped save the lives of 21 people on board after the ship was hit by a huge wave in bad weather and ran aground off the coast of Blackpool in January last year.