A retired teacher from Caister has been to Windsor Castle to receive royal recognition from King Charles.

Home-Start patron and fundraiser Ann Keable has received her MBE from the King for her many years of service to children in Norfolk.

Mrs Keable said of her visit: "It was a wonderful day and such a privilege to receive my award from the King."

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ann Keable with her MBE medal. Picture - Ann KeableAnn Keable with her MBE medal. Picture - Ann Keable (Image: Ann Keable)

Having co-founded the Great Yarmouth and District branch of Home-Start, Mrs Keable is a former trustee of the charity, which supports parents in raising their children, such as in healthy eating and mental health. She continues to be a patron and a fundraiser for Home-Start.

Mrs Keable said: "I have seen the impact on the lives of children when they have not been fully nurtured through their earliest years.

"They do not enjoy the security and self-confidence that every child deserves, and it made me determined to do all I could to raise awareness and help parents."

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After retiring from teaching in 2004, Mrs Keable decided to join Home-Start as she fully endorsed its ethos of supporting children. She had seen how a challenging start in life had a far-reaching impact on children’s development and lifelong outcomes.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: A flashback to when Ann Keable met Lady Dannatt during her work for Home-Start Great Yarmouth (Picture - Newsquest)A flashback to when Ann Keable met Lady Dannatt during her work for Home-Start Great Yarmouth (Picture - Newsquest) (Image: Archant)

She is said to have fought fearlessly against funding cuts, which saw the charity’s income decline.

Continued cuts led Mrs Keable to represent the charity as part of a merger of five county-based Home-Start groups into Home-Start Norfolk, which was formed in 2017.

Since retiring from official duties in 2021, Mrs Keable continues to fundraise for the charity, organising local events and tirelessly recruiting support from the area.

A Home-Start Norfolk spokesperson said: "We were bursting with pride when Ann received her MBE from King Charles last week."

Mrs Keable received her honours alongside Call the Midwife screenwriter Heidi Thomas, triple jumper Connie Henry and music producer Danny Poku.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Picture - PAWindsor Castle, Berkshire. Picture - PA (Image: Steve Parsons)