A WOMAN, who has lived in Beacon Hill for more than 50 years, was due to be honoured at a special award ceremony at Buckingham Palace this week, for her services to Hindhead's playing fields

Audrey Mattock was expected to receive the presidents award, a certificate presented by the Duke of Edinburgh, the president of the National Playing Fields' Association on Wednesday.

The award was made to Mrs Mattock for her services to Hindhead Playing Fields' Association and work she has done over a number of years to help keep the playing fields and the pavilion in tip-top condition.

As secretary of the local association for the past 12 years, Mrs Mattock not only takes a keen interest in the seven acres of playing fields and the pavilion, but also keeps an eye on the field and is on hand at all times to sort out any problems.

A modest Mrs Mattock told The Herald that she was accepting the award on behalf of all the players and sportsmen who use the facilities.

"I feel very honoured to accept it," she said on Monday when news leaked out about her special trip to London.

"It is a huge honour and I've been in a tiswas ever since I received the letter at the beginning of the month."

Mrs Mattock's two sons were planning to accompany their mother to the ceremony.

But she said: I am also accepting it on behalf of my husband Jim who was field warden and a brilliant cricketer and did an awful lot while he was chairman of Hindhead Playing Fields' Association and president of the cricket club.

Mrs Mattock was invited to become secretary of the association following the death of her husband in 1990. "They don't take a blind bit of notice of what I say but I've carried on bullying the association, telling them what to do," joked Mrs Mattock, the only woman among the many men involved with the playing fields.

Dedicated to the needs of the young children and senior sportsmen who use the fields ,Mrs Mattock was among those who believed it was the correct decision last year to fence in the grounds and close the fields to dogs and their walkers.

She said that the National Playing Fields' Association had taken more interest in the field over the past five to six years and were "very impressed with our field and pavilion" during a visit from the chairman and committee in the summer

Mrs Mattock, who is also involved in a number of other community groups and village interests, hoped that the National Playing Fields' Association will provide the local group with a grant to help pay for the planned £150,000 refurbishment of its pavilion.

"We need as much support as possible from everyone," she said.