Behind every great man there's a great woman, or so the saying goes.

And that's something proud MBE winner Jim Springford, 56, can testify to.

Were it not for wife Valerie, 55, Jim would not be gearing up to head off to Buckingham Palace to collect his prestigious medal.

Jim, of Jermaynes, Basildon, was recognised by the Queen for his 18 years of loyal service as a driver for Customs and Excise chairman Dame Valerie Strachan.

The job involves working all hours, which means an understanding wife is a must. Jim said: "I'm very pleased for my wife.

"I have to start very early in the morning and I'm sometimes not home before 3am, but she always gets up to make me a cup of tea or to make me a meal. She never moans about it."

A letter from Downing Street in November broke the news that Jim was going to become one of the honoured elite.

However, he had to bite his lip and keep the news from his five brothers and sisters and two grown-up children.

He said: "I'm used to keeping secrets in my job."

Now he is plucking up some courage to make the trip to Buckingham Palace. He said: "I've been there a few times, but I've never actually met the Royal family.

"I will probably have to have a few pints of Guinness first."

Congratulations - Jim and Valerie Springford are set for Buckingham Palace date

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.