Can’t stop, must Carry On working, says Bernard Cribbins as he is honoured at 82

The 82-year-old received the honour for services to drama for a long career which has included appearances in several Carry On films.

He was presented with the OBE by the Princess Royal at a Windsor Castle investiture ceremony and said after the event that providing the voices of characters such as Uncle Bulgaria, Tobermory and Orinoco was simple because of how The Wombles was written.

“The structure of the writing was such that you knew exactly where everybody was socially in that household,” he said.

Cribbins said that he enjoyed “a nice little chat” with Princes Anne about providing boats suitable for disabled people, which is a cause they both support.

“It was lovely, we had a wee chat, we were rambling on and then she said ‘We mustn’t gossip’ and sort of looked at her watch and that was it,” he said.

The first Wombles book was published in 1968 and, after it was broadcast on Jackanory, the BBC decided to make an animated series.

“It was lovely,” Cribbins said.

“I enjoyed it enormously, it was great fun, but the reaction since is what is enjoyable with different age groups.

“I can almost identify people’s ages just by what they are saying.”

He added: “It was a very nice episode in my career.”

His longevity is demonstrated by appearances in the 1966 Doctor Who feature film Daleks’ Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. and the Doctor Who television series which was revived in 2005.

Cribbins has no intention of retiring, and joked: “If you know of any work that’s going I’ll take it.

“I love it, I can’t stop, why should I? I’m still able to read and write.”

Claire Clark, one of the world’s top pastry chefs, received an MBE from the Princess Royal for services to the food industry.

Clark, who has made cakes for singer Gwen Stefani’s wedding and actor Dustin Hoffman’s 60th birthday, said: “It’s amazing, it’s actually phenomenal. I was really nervous but I’m obviously delighted to be here.”

She said the proudest moment of her career was becoming the first woman in the UK to receive the prestigious Meilleur Ouvrier de Grande-Bretagne prize.

And the 47-year-old revealed that the favourite restaurant she has worked at is The French Laundry in California, US, where she was based from 2005-2010.