With just under 90 years on the calendar, it would not be unnatural to assume that Mrs. Freda Siggins spends her days with her feet up watching television, but such a lifestyle would be anathema to the former nurse who was recently honoured by the Queen in the New Year's Honours list.

Since the Sandys parish resident is blessed with good health and a sharp mind she intends to capitalise on both for as long as they exist.

"I believe in keeping active," she says.

When she is not enjoying her immaculately kept home and garden, which she shares with five adored cats, Mrs. Siggins volunteers at two local facilities each week.

On Mondays, she takes the bus to the Red Cross facility at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, where she dispenses medical equipment such as crutches, wheelchairs and walkers.

Her medical background helps her to advise clients on the little details of the items they are renting.

Always a "people person," Mrs. Siggins enjoys combining professionalism with friendliness, and eagerly looks forward to this assignment as much as she does the knitting one because helping others is in her nature, which is why she became a nurse in the first place.

"As a child growing up I always knew I wanted to be a nurse," she says. "So in 1930 I entered the King Edward Hospital's student nurse training course. It included 15 months at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, during which I did maternity nursing training.

"That was an experience - especially the severe winters, but it was very interesting," she says. "It was an old hospital with maybe 120 beds. Each ward had about 30 beds, so coming from the smaller wards of Bermuda we were a bit overwhelmed at first."

On her return from Montreal Mrs. Siggins was put charge of Ward 3, the men's ward, which had six private and ten public ward patients.

Mrs. Siggins was particularly proud of the starched white uniform nurses wore in those days, and the much-cherished cap.

"I wish they would wear uniforms now," she says. "Today you can't tell a nurse from a maid, which is a shame."

In addition to the many good memories of her student nursing days, Mrs. Siggins says she still remembers one maternity ward nurse who apparently did not approve of illegitimate babies and handled them less lovingly than the others.

"I was absolutely astounded, and couldn't see any point in that," she says.

As clearly as if it were yesterday, Mrs. Siggins also recalls that during her student days standards at King Edward were high, and the matron was very strict.

"She would inspect the ward, and we had to see that all the beds were straight, with their wheels turned in so that they were all level. It was a real pain in the neck," she says. "We also had to wash the beds, and we were taught to give tender loving care to all the patients, including back rubs. Things are different today."

The hospital also had fewer doctors then - you could count them on one hand, and she recalls that one, Dr. Arton, was "revered".

"We always knew when he was arriving because he rang the bell of his horse and carriage, so we would all make sure that his patients were tidy and waiting for him. He was very nice, but very strict of course," she says. "Much later, his portrait in the hospital was defaced so there isn't one there now, which I think is terrible."

After 14 years first as Ward Nurse and then Assistant Matron, Mrs. Siggins studied electrocardiography and headed the hospital's new Electrocardiograph Department - a post she held for 26 years until she reached the mandatory retirement age of 65.

"Then I joined the Pink Ladies and continued on in electrocardiography for a few more years because they were short-staffed," the former nurse says. "I am still a Pink Lady on the nonactive rota because I work at the Red Cross rentals on Mondays - something I have been doing for about ten years."

Mrs. Siggins has misgivings, however, about relocating this important department to the new building which is currently under construction adjacent to the Red Cross' Point Finger Road headquarters.

"The Hospital wants us to move, but I think it is a pity because when patients are going home and need equipment we are right there," she says. "In future patients will have to leave the hospital and come to the new building, which is less convenient of course."

On Wednesday mornings Mrs. Siggins volunteers another of her talents nearer home: she holds a knitting class at the Packwood Home.

"I'm not professional, but I do enjoy it, and we also crochet," she says. "I spend a couple of hours with them, and one lady is making an afghan."

Admitting that she has always liked to help people, the dedicated volunteer also numbers a stint in the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association (LCCA) office among her past activities.

Although she will be 90 in August, the widowed mother of two children, Herbert Siggins and Margaret Drinkwater, shows little sign of advanced age. She travels everywhere by bus or on foot, and is a regular attendant at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. She also contributes to a regular pot luck supper among friends at Heydon Lodge.

As for the future, the former nurse says she will review her volunteer duties after she turns 90, and decide whether or not to continue based on her physical strength.

Meanwhile, she plans to enjoy her independent lifestyle for as long as she can, and when that is no longer feasible she hopes she can enter "Westmeath", the seniors' residence on Pitts Bay Road.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Siggins is still coming to terms with the Queen's recognition of her contributions to the community.

"It was a terrific surprise, and really quite an honour," she says. "Someone phoned me from the Government, then I received a letter from the Deputy Governor saying the awards would be given in Bermuda. I had to question them because I couldn't believe it."

Since the news broke, however, she has received many phone calls, both from here and abroad, which has delighted her.

Now she is looking forward to her trip to Government House to receive her award sometime after the new governor's arrival.

"My daughter says I must have a new dress, so it will be quite exciting," she smiles.