TEIGNMOUTH born and bred Pat Henchie met the Queen – and it was one of the biggest thrills of her life.

She went to a Buckingham Palace investiture to receive an OBE, and described the chat with Her Majesty as 'magical – something I will always treasure.'

Mrs Henchie, 59, is the retired head teacher of a London school, and was rewarded in the New Year's Honours for her services to education.

'The Queen is an amazing person and put me completely at ease. She talked about the importance of working with young people, and took a great interest in my work.

'For those few minutes she was entirely focussed on me – it was an amazing feeling,' she said.

'She stood there for over an hour, and devoted the same personal attention to all those she presented the honours to. I can't praise her enough.'

Mrs Henchie was head of Lowther Primary School in Barnes from 1992 until last year, and described it as the 'best years of my professional life.' The school's acting head, Mark Tuffney, said it was a well deserved honour that reflected the powerful impact she had on so many lives.

'She didn't just do her job – for her it was her life.

'She made a real difference to so many people – her staff, her pupils and the community as a whole.'

Mrs Henchie grew up in the grocery shop at 16 Northumberland Place, Teignmouth, run by her father, Gilbert Ware, and served customers from a young age.

'My wonderful, gentle courteous father, taught me that you always put the customer first and went the extra mile.

'I carried boxes of groceries all around the town. Service, the community and striving for excellence were the gifts that Teignmouth gave me.'

She gives a lot of credit to the former grammar school in the town for her education, and fondly recalls a programme called Mr A A Smith's community activities, that involved visiting and shopping for the elderly.

'Taking part in the Eisteddfod taught her to value performance, teamwork and putting in the extra effort to create something of excellence.'

Mrs Henchie loves Teignmouth and has always kept a base here, returning every year 'as a student teacher, wife, mother and grandmother', since moving away in 1969.

Her favourite location is the back beach, and she can't wait to come back with husband Stewart to the town permanently in July.

She said:?'We spent every summer there as a family from when I was born, and I really enjoy the ambience and the people, especially Jim Matthews, a great friend. I just enjoy having a breakfast fry-up on the beach on Sundays.

'I am so pleased to be coming home again, and perhaps to give something back to Teignmouth for bestowing me with the passion that led to my OBE.'