DEDICATED supporter Lilian Watts has been presented with the Royal British Legion Women's Section's highest honour at a surprise presentation in North Walsham.

DEDICATED supporter Lilian Watts has been presented with the Royal British Legion Women's Section's highest honour at a surprise presentation in North Walsham.

Mrs Watts, who has given more than 40 years' service to the cause, found herself on the receiving end of a Golden Award during what she had expected to be an ordinary branch meeting in the town.

Branch chairman Elsie Nash said she had been a "tremendous worker" through the years. She added: "Whatever we have done, Mrs Watts has been in the middle of it, helping."

Mrs Watts, who is in her 80s, joined the North Walsham and district branch 24 years ago after 20 years of service at her former home in Devon, where she had been a standard bearer.

She has been a delegate and visitor at conferences, organised the Poppy Day appeal, stepped in to help Mrs Nash as joint secretary when no-one could be found to take the vacant secretary's post, and is current branch vice-chairman.

And she has also recruited family members to help. Daughter Sylvia Baker is the branch's correspondence secretary and son Richard does its printing work.

An accomplished needlewoman, Mrs Watts also organised branch needlework competitions. In recent years she has taken up photography.

"She does such a lot for us and just keeps on going, not expecting any special prize for what she does, but we wanted to recognise her contribution," said Mrs Nash. Mrs Watts received her award from Bridget Mayes, past county chairman of the RBL Women's Section.

Branch members will host a coffee morning in the St Nicholas' Room, behind North Walsham Parish Church, on Thursday, November 6 from 9am to noon. Proceeds will go to this year's Poppy Day appeal.