Jean Marsh (Mombi) Honored by the Queen!

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"Born-and-bred Londoner Jean Marsh - the star of Upstairs, Downstairs - said she was "thrilled" to be made an OBE but admitted she initially ignored the official letter because she thought it might be a parking ticket.




The 77-year-old actress, who co-created the show with her friend Dame Eileen Atkins, said she was "overwhelmed" by the honour.



She said: "I thought it looked like a parking ticket but I knew I hadn't driven for a year.



"It feels extraordinary. I've had awards, like Emmys and all that sort of thing, but to have an official thing like this, I was thrilled."



Marsh, who played maid Rose Buck in the hit period drama, married actor Jon Pertwee when she was 19 and before he became a star as Doctor Who.



Upstairs, Downstairs, which was in part inspired by her mother's work in service, followed the lives of the well-heeled Bellamys of Belgravia and their servants below stairs.



Marsh said her parents would have been thrilled by the honour.



Soul singer and songwriter Omar, who has a home in south London, was so surprised by his MBE he had to read the letter to his parents to confirm he really had been given the honour.



The 43-year-old, perhaps best-known for debut single There's Nothing Like This, was awarded the gong for services to music under his full name Omar Lye Fook, has just recorded his seventh studio album and still tours internationally.



Omar has collaborated with musicians including Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone, and hit number 14 in the UK singles chart with There's Nothing Like This in 1991."



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