A fundraiser who annually turns a town pink to raise money for a breast cancer charity has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the first King's Birthday Honours List.
Jeanne Chattoe was recognised for over 30 years of fundraising for Against Breast Cancer - an Abingdon-based charity that funds pioneering research into new cancer treatments, raising an estimated £1million in the process.
She masterminded and organises Witney in Pink Day, an annual event which began in 1999, and has become a regular fixture and attracts support from across the UK.
Ms Chattoe, who was born and bred in Witney, said: “I’ve done fashion shows, ladies nights, quizzes, car boot sales, everything."
READ MORE: Moment girl on electric-scooter has near-miss with car
Pink Day was started to remember her sister Delia Winkler, who also lived in Witney, who she lost to breast cancer.
Ms Chattoe, who ran independent clothing store Renaissance for 15 years, has also had breast cancer twice.
She said she was trying to think of different ways to fundraise when she came up with Witney in Pink in the middle of the night.
"Pink is the colour of breast cancer and I had recently had breast cancer and I was lying in bed awake at three in the morning and suddenly thought, ah!" she said.
At the time she was working at Delia’s shop, Top Bags, and she and her husband started by delivering letters to all the shops and putting up balloons on lamp-posts and bollards.
Together they then started encouraging the other shops to decorate their windows.
"It just grew," she said.
Ms Chattoe also founded the Witney Against Breast Cancer Action Fundraising Group which helps put on the event which sees the town turn pink with pink window displays, a pink car parade and residents in pink fancy dress.
Ms Chattoe found out she had been honoured six weeks ago.
READ MORE: Oxford Magistrates Court latest results
She said: “I got a letter from the cabinet office. I was shocked and stunned, I had no idea. I got the envelope and thought, what’s this about? I did not know what to think, it was unreal.
“I had been a tea party at Buckingham Palace that Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire nominated for me to attend on the Tuesday and I got the letter on the Saturday.
"It’s a good job I’m modest!
“My family and friends are thrilled for me. My daughter put it on Facebook. It is very exciting.”
The medal will be awarded in the coming months by the Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here