A woman who has transformed sports opportunities for thousands of disabled people is to meet Prince Charles and Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, after receiving a special award for her work.

Sue Frett, of Martin’s Avenue in Epsom, founded the Surrey Special Olympics (SSO), the charity Reach Out Youth and Adult Disabilities, and has volunteered to improve the lives of disabled people, including her son Jonathan, 45, who was born with brain damage, for the past 40 years.

Mrs Frett has been selected as one of 60 Diamond Champions, in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year, from across the country and received the award for her outstanding volunteering work with disabled people over many years. 

The awards were organised by the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, and Prince Charles and his wife are patrons of the Diamond Champions campaign.

The 73-year-old attended a ceremony at the Sloane Club, in London, last Friday, October 19, along with 60 other nominees from the Eastern and South East region - from which just 10 were selected as Diamond Champions. 

They will join selected nominees from the other regions at a celebration at St James’ Palace, in November where they will meet the royal couple. 

Keeping Up Appearances actress Patricia Routledge presented Mrs Frett with her Diamond Champion pin on Friday.

Nominated for the honour by Sue Johnson, an SSO coach, Mrs Frett said it was a "wonderful honour" to be a selected as a Diamond Champion as 874 nominations were initially received in the Eastern and South East region.

Mrs Frett said: "You have that dumb moment when you think ‘that’s not me’.  My friend had to nudge me and say ‘they’re talking about you’.

"It was an absolute privilege to be chosen as one of the 60 Diamond Champions.  I’m a real softie - tears rolled down my face.

"I’ve been volunteering for disabled people for 40 years and it has never been a chore, just an absolute joy. 

"As long as those boys and girls I volunteer for have support and affection, they can do anything. When they do well, it makes you feel very humble.

"To be among so many people that are doing wonderful work within their community is great."