MARTIN Miller knew his wife Philomena was a dedicated carer after she helped him battle leukaemia.

But now the Queen has hailed the 69-year-old for her quarter-century of service with the Order of St John.

Mrs Miller, 69, from Rowstock, near Harwell, was invested into the Order at a special ceremony in the organisation’s historic 12th century Priory Church in London’s Clerkenwell, last Thursday.

Membership of the Order of St John is only granted to those who show exceptional service to its key foundations – one of which is St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading first aid charity – and each recipient has to be approved by the Queen.

Not only has Mrs Miller, a mother-of-two and grandmother-of-four, been a member of St John Ambulance for 25 years, she has battled breast cancer, helped her husband when he was ill and helped old people in the community, Mr Miller said.

The 69-year-old added: “Philomena was very surprised to learn she was to receive the award “But she took it in her stride, and myself and our family were thrilled that she was presented with it.”

He continued: “My wife is quite a shy person, but she is deeply caring and caring for others is all she has ever wanted to do.

“She looked after me in my darkest days following leukaemia. And she also cared for her mother and countless other elderly people in our community.

“On top of that she also fought off beat breast cancer three years back.

“You cannot hold her back – she just keeps on going, and this award is recognition of that.

“She nursed me through leukaemia in 2003 and there have been so many old people in our community who have been cared for by her, either in her work at the hospital or in the medical assistance she has given as part of St John Ambulance.

“People can’t speak highly enough of her. But she doesn’t look for rewards or awards. Knowing she is caring for people is reward enough for her.”

Mrs Miller, who also still works part time as an auxilliary nurse at Didcot Community Hospital, said: “The 25 years-plus that I have spent with St John Ambulance have been varied and very interesting.

“At the moment I am tea lady, storekeeper and, depending on the season, I can either be at summer fairs or even at the November 5 bonfires!

“The training they have given me has been invaluable and has helped me look after others. It has been a major part of my life and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

“It is an honour to have been invited to become a member of the Order of St John and I feel very privileged.”

The investiture ceremony takes place three times a year. About 100 people from communities across the country are invested on each occasion.