A CALENDAR girl who has raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Royal Bournemouth Hospital after a cancer diagnosis 17 years ago has been honoured with an award.

Beryl Parker, of Strouden Park in Bournemouth, has been given a British Citizen Award for her services to volunteering and charitable giving.

The 78-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000.

After being treated at the Royal Bournemouth, she decided to raise money for the breast care unit, and has since raised £40,000.

In 2002, Beryl created and starred in a nude calendar for the cause.

Unable to convince her friends to get involved, she posed for all 12 photographs herself, raising £10,000.

The money she has raised has allowed hospital bosses to buy a special digital camera for early cancer detection, as well as a number of portable ultrasound scanners - one of which is affectionately known in the unit as 'Beryl'.

She said: "I was surprised when I found out about the award.

"I just couldn’t believe it.

"I do the things I do because I enjoy doing them, not for any recognition or to get anything back."

Beryl also organises lunch clubs, day trips and holidays for those who might otherwise be isolated.

In addition, she acts as vice-chair of the Bournemouth and Poole National Trust Association, social secretary of the Bournemouth Civic Society and secretary of Bournemouth in Bloom, and is involved with the Bournemouth Retired Post Office Employees Association, the Boscombe and Bournemouth Light Opera Company and the Throop, Strouden Park and Holdenhurst Area Forum.

She has also been both treasurer and secretary of the Dorset Ladies Lunch Club for nine years.

"When my husband died in 1994, I joined all sorts of groups and clubs and just started doing all sorts of functions and things for them and it just continued," she said.

"I’m very much a 'cup half full' kind of person, because I think you have to be. I’m very honoured to be receiving the award – it’s nice to know that I’m wanted and I feel very loved."

The British Citizen Awards were launched in January 2015 to recognise those who work to have a positive impact on society.

The awards are given out twice each year.

Beryl is one of 29 medallists who will be honoured at a prestigious ceremony on January 26 at the Palace of Westminster.

She was nominated by her friend, the Reverend Chris Colledge, who said: "I can think of no other person who is more deserving of such an honour. "She has given so much, helping others by taking up the mantle and raising £40,000 to benefit other women who have been diagnosed with cancer. "This is all despite her own ill health.

"It shows exactly what sort of a person she is.

"She is very humble and unassuming and has been really brave through all of her own health problems – what she does is nothing short of incredible and it’s wonderful that she’s receiving this award."