HARD-WORKING fund-raiser Sidney Wander was treated to a day off when he visited Buckingham Palace to collect his MBE.

Mr Wander, of Ringley Road, Whitefield, received the award in the New Year's Honours list for services to the community in Manchester.

A semi-retired marketing consultant, Mr Wander has worked most of his life in the business world.

He worked in the family wholesale business, dealing in hardware and fancy goods, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

He is also a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and a past president of the Rotary Club of Manchester Exchange.

As well as his busy professional life, Mr Wander has also devoted more than 20 years to St Ann's Hospice in Little Hulton as the honorary chaiman of the fund-raising group.

The group has enabled the purchase of many amenities for patients, including special beds, wheelchairs, a shower room and a bathroom.

The nomination was a suprise to the father-of-four and he is still trying to work out who put his name forward.

Mr Wander was accompanied to the Palace last week by his wife, June, and two of his daughters, Jo and Laura.

He said: "It was a lovely experience; much better than I anticipated. I found it very easy and comfortable and the people who organised it were very friendly. No one felt overawed by the experience."

Mr Wander, who recognised TV travel journalist Alan Whicker while collecting his award, exchanged a few pleasantries with the Queen as she handed over the honour.

He added: "She acknowledged my work with the hospice and that was it, as she had a lot of people to get through! It was a complete surprise to hear I had got the award and I feel quite proud."