Waitress Jean awarded MBE in Queen's honours

DEVOTED waitress Jean Barton was celebrating today after being awarded an MBE in the Queen's birthday honours.

Jean, who has waited on customers at the Black Swan, in Helmsley, for 43 years, received her award for services to catering.

Even though she knew four weeks ago that she was in line for the honour, Jean, of Bells Court, Helmsley, said she was "completely overwhelmed" by the news.

"My tummy's doing the flip," said Jean, 66.

"You have to keep these things secret until the day itself, not a spit, a wink or a blink of it to anyone, and that's been a devil.

"All I can say is I'm overwhelmed - just completely overwhelmed. I mean, it's beyond belief, isn't it?"

Mum-of-two Jean has gone on to found a dynasty of catering angels.

Her daughter, Alison Richardson, is housekeeper at The Black Swan, while her other daughter, Helen Blinkhorn, is a housekeeper in Manchester.

Keeping the secret from her loved ones, she added, was almost impossible.

When Jean took the waitressing job at the Black Swan, she little suspected she'd become quite such a permanent fixture, and such a firm favourite with the customers.

She recently gave up the job full-time, and now is quite happy working part-time serving breakfast.

But one thing has always stayed the same - Jean's love for her colleagues and her customers. "Everyone at the Black Swan is wonderful; they always have been," she said. "It has been a marvellous experience to have served and looked after people. The years just roll on, and you stay happy, so you don't move. The best thing about it is having a job that you really enjoy - and I do!"

A hospital boss who led a dramatic evacuation of patients from a flood-hit hospital was also awarded an MBE.

Jan Aspinall, acting manager of Selby War Memorial Hospital, said she could not understand why she had been singled out.

She said she regarded the award as an honour for everyone who fought last November's devastating floods.

Jan co-ordinated the evacuation of more than 30 patients from Selby War Memorial Hospital, after the bloated Selby Dam had threatened to burst. The patients were moved by ambulance to York District Hospital and Goole Hospital, where they stayed for one week until the all-clear was given.

Updated: 09:52 Saturday, June 16, 2001