I never expected to meet the Queen and was glad that I'd had a few sips of champagne first...

Byline: By MARK WELFORD

A SPECIALIST health worker from Middlesbrough has received the Royal seal of approval as a reward for her dedicated service to the NHS.

Finulua Deehan-Hunter, a Darlington health visitor, met the Queen at an evening reception at Buckingham Palace.

The 45-year-old, of Linthorpe, who has worked in the NHS for over 25 years, said: "The invitation came out of the blue. As I opened my mail at work I noticed an envelope which looked completely different and when I saw the Buckingham Palace postmark my hands started to shake.

"I was absolutely astounded. I never expected to actually meet the Queen and I was glad I'd had a few sips of champagne to help me stop shaking before I was introduced to her. We chatted for a few minutes about my work with the Romany gipsy community within Darlington and she was genuinely interested and also very knowledgeable."

This was the third trip to the capital for Finulua, who last year also attended the NHS 60th anniversary celebrations at Westminster Abbey and in 2005 accompanied the United Kingdom Association of Gypsy Women to a reception at the House of Lords.

"It was an honour and a privilege to be invited to accompany the association," she said. "And to be asked to go to Buckingham Palace and meet the Queen was an experience I will never forget."

Finulua, who has two children, James, 15 and Annie, 13, was accompanied by husband Scott.

CAPTION(S):

PALACE RECEPTION: The Queen spoke to Finulua for several minutes and was 'very knowledgeable', she says; ROYAL CHAT: Health visitor Finulua Deehan- Hunter