ONE of New Cumnock's most well known characters rubbed shoulders with royalty this week as she picked up an OBE.

Gette Fulton was included in the New Year's Honours List back in January and this week she made the trip to Edinburgh to be presented with the award from the Queen.

Gette was made an OBE for her services to Care of Police Survivors, St Andrew's First Aid and the community in New Cumnock.

She has served the community for over 20 years and was nominated by a mystery resident for the award.

Gette successfully campaigned for safety vests for police officers after her son, PC Lewis Fulton was killed in the line of duty in June 1994.

Gette was also been recognised for her services to St Andrew's First Aid. She currently serves as a first aider at Kilmarnock FC.

Generous Gette has also worked tirelessly on the New Cumnock Action Plan and the New Cumnock Swimming Pool, becoming the oldest qualified lifeguard in Scotland and still teaches youngsters life saving techniques ans well as taking swimming classes.

Gette this week went to Hollyrood Palace to pick up her gong.

She said: "It was a very proud day for me and my family were there which made it all the more special.

"I also got an invite to a reception on the Monday night with the Queen and Prince Philip."

Gette was then presented with the award by Her Majesty on Tuesday.

She added: "The Queen was pinning the badge on and she looked at me and said 'you were here last night' so she remembered me from the night before.

"It was very nice and I just thanked her for the invite.

"Prince Philip spoke to me about working with St Andrew's First Aid and wanted to know when the last time I had to use it. I told him that I had someone with a suspected broken upper arm just last week. He asked if I put a splint on it, I think that goes to show just old fashioned his idea of first aid was."

The New Cumnock woman was joined by 77 other recipients as well as over 200 family members.

Gette added: "It was a lovely day and the weather was very nice as well and so were all the people that were there.

"As you can imagine, it was quite well organised and very slick. Everything was planned out so I really didn't have any time to get nervous.

"It was a very special day".