PHARMACY champion Dr Janine Barnes enjoyed a day to remember when presented with the MBE by Prince William at Buckingham Palace earlier this month.

Dr Barnes was nominated in the New Year's Honours List for her services to pharmacy, especially in the field of Parkinson's.

She said: "The honour came as a complete surprise and Prince William was really personal. I had no idea about the award as it came completely out of the blue."

Originally from Manchester, Dr Barnes now lives in Love Lane, Oldswinford and has worked tirelessly throughout her career to promote pharmacy as a profession.

She was the first pharmacist to be included in the NICE guideline committee reviewing the management of Parkinson's disease.

Dr Barnes now works for the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust as a neurology specialist pharmacist specialising in the management of Parkinson's disease.

She works mainly at both the Corbett and Guest Hospitals in addition to Stourbridge Health and Social Care Centre.

In her spare time, Dr Barnes enjoys a game of racketball at Stourbridge Tennis Club, where her son Lewis was once a promising prospect having played for Great Britain's under-14 Davis Cup team.