"MY TUMMY is doing the flip."

That's probably not quite the reaction The Queen was expecting when she awarded the MBE to devoted waitress Jean Barton, but that is what she got.

Jean, who has waited on happy customers at the Black Swan in Helmsley for 43 years, today leads the lucky local recipients of Her Majesty's Birthday Honours. She has received the MBE for her services to catering, while other major players in North Yorkshire life were also celebrating today.

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

"My tummy's doing the flip," said Jean, aged 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 she 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!"

Updated: 09:56 Thursday, June 21, 2001