A DAY to remember is how former St Albans Mayor and community campaigner Ken Jenkins described receiving his MBE from the Queen. Ken, aged 80, who lives in Douglas Road, Harpenden, was awarded an MBE in the New Year s Honours List and went to Buckingham P

A DAY to remember is how former St Albans Mayor and community campaigner Ken Jenkins described receiving his MBE from the Queen.

Ken, aged 80, who lives in Douglas Road, Harpenden, was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List and went to Buckingham Palace with wife Jo, son Steve and daughter Debbie to receive it.

He found himself with a diverse group of other people who had been honoured, ranging from a steel worker from Barrow-in-Furness to Double Gold Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds, the youngest-ever recipient of an MBE.

Presenting him with his MBE, the Queen asked Ken what his special area of interest was and he told her it was care of the elderly, particularly getting them out of their homes so they could meet other people.

He said: "I didn't know until half way through the pre-presentation that I would be receiving it from the Queen."

The family celebrated later at a restaurant in Beaconsfield and Ken said of the day: "It was all delightfully done and so charming."

Ken has been involved in the community since the early 1970s including the St Albans and District Chamber of Commerce, Harpenden Trust, Harpenden Colts and St Albans Enterprise Agency.

His most active involvement is with Harpenden Day Centre which provides somewhere for elderly people in the town to come, meet their friends and enjoy a hot meal.

He has campaigned particularly about the condition and future of the day centre which is caught up in the uncertainty which surrounds the adjoining James Marshall House in Leyton Road, Harpenden.