'It was an honour to be there. It was a wonderful experience'

The 59-year-old mother-of-four, from Claxton, near York, said her whole family deserved the honour because it was their sacrifices and caring attitude that allowed her to foster 40 children over two decades.

Mrs Baker's husband Graham, 61, and her children Matthew, 32, and Rebekah, 26, joined her at the ceremony at the palace on Wednesday.

It was the event which also saw Iraq war hero Private Johnson Beharry receive the Victoria Cross for bravery and record-breaking yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur become a Dame.

The Bakers' other children, Stephen, 30, and Hannah, 28, joined them at the gates of Buckingham Palace afterwards and shared a celebratory meal.

Mrs Baker, who plans to carry on caring for children through the Sharing Care scheme in York, said: "It was an honour to be there - it was a wonderful experience.

"The Queen asked me how long I had been caring for children and what I was doing at the moment. It was over in a very short time, but I enjoyed the experience of it all, seeing others getting their awards, especially the chap from the Iraq war. I spoke to him and shook his hand and I spoke to Ellen MacArthur.

"It was just an experience to be with them and be honoured at the same time as them. I feel honoured that people have found me worthy enough to have the award.

"It was a family occasion because they are part of it too. What I have done I couldn't do unless the family and my husband had been willing.

"In a way the whole family should have been there receiving it because it isn't just me.

"Certainly the family, to some extent, have sacrificed their mum to care for other children. It has rubbed off on them and they are all very caring towards children."

Mrs Baker worked as a paediatric nurse in York Hospital for four years before leaving to care for children in her own home.

She has fostered 40 children and, in addition, now provides invaluable care for special needs children with additional health needs, such as those with severe epilepsy, or who have to be fed through tubes.

She has looked after 15 of these children, from York, Malton and Selby.

Rachel and Graham care for three children at a time, to give their own families a break. They collect the children from school and look after them overnight, or take them in for a week's holiday.

Updated: 10:16 Friday, April 29, 2005