A GLITTERING ceremony at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall welcomed Roll of Honour winners from all over London on Thursday last week.

The Hillingdon Times, in conjunction with LBC radio, has spent the past six months collecting nominations for dozens of people across our borough who have provided extraordinary services for others.

After hours of debate and consideration, Marie Pettman, 82, emerged as our winner. Marie, of Wimborne Avenue, Hayes began working with the visually-impaired in 1969 and also helps Age Concern and HAVS.

The heroine pronounced herself 'embarrassed' by all the fuss but admitted: "It is nice that other people think I do a good job."

A fearless advocate for citizen's rights, Marie is known as 'the pest' at the council's offices.

"If I have any particular skill, it is stamina," said Marie, who is married to Eric with two daughters and four grandchildren. "I deserve a gold star for persistence." Each Roll of Honour winner is entitled to a VIP day at the New Year's Day Parade, but Marie will not be there. "I'll be in the Forest of Dean with my daughter," she said. "Recovering from a hangover."