A FUNDRAISING fitness queen from Kingswinford has proudly accepted a Royal award for her community keep fit and charity work.

Jean Hughes, aged 78, has been rewarded with a British Empire Medal in recognition of more than 40 years of combining keep fit classes with fundraising for good causes.

Over the years Jean and her loyal keep fitters, who meet at venues in Wordsley, have raked in more than £115,000 for charities across the borough and beyond.

Her charitable efforts were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June and last Thursday (October 31) saw Her Majesty’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Richard Boot, present her with the prestigious accolade in front of her dedicated fitness troupe at Wordsley Community Centre.

Jean said: “It was wonderful but I didn’t set out in the beginning to try and get an award. I accepted it on behalf of the group. It’s our medal as it was a joint effort; I didn’t do it on my own. I had a lot of support. I’m lucky to have such a good group.”

Proudly watching her receive the award was Jean’s daughter Su Handford and husband Paul, both of whom have picked up their own Royal awards in the past for services to the police force.

Retired detective Su has the Queen’s Police Medal and Paul, a retired inspector, has an MBE.

Jean and her keep fit fans, who attend classes at the Richardson Hall and Wordsley Community Centre, have staged countless fundraisers over the years - from barn dances and fun runs to discos, raffles and fish and chip suppers.

As part of her Royal honour, she will now be invited to the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace next summer.