JOURNALISTS are public servants... aren’t they? Well, sort of, so I’m looking out for the postie who I hope will be laden down with dozens of nominations for me to join the invitation-only audience with the Queen at Worcester Cathedral.

I’m not hopeful. We put the call out for people to nominate unsung heroes in yesterday’s paper but, as yet, nominations for me = zero.

I suppose I can live with that.

Our appeal was for nominations for people who make a significant contribution to the local community and the lives of people around them.

The idea was to shine a light on those often in the shadows, quietly helping others.

I really hope those are the people who are nominated but the trouble with unsung heroes is that they are often just that – unsung.

There are plenty of high-profile people who spring to mind who do good works or volunteer for charities and I wouldn’t want to take anything away from them.

But there are many more who probably don’t even realise what they do is heroic.

Maybe they offer lifts to the infirm, or do the shopping or the washing for elderly neighbours without being asked – all while holding down their own jobs and running their own homes.

Maybe they run local sports teams or are brown owl or Scout leader.

People we take for granted but without whom life would be a bit more drab and dreary.

These are the kind of people I really hope to see nominated.

Some may feel the event is not for them because their lives are far removed from royal circles – but I hope that doesn’t put people off.

There’s no reason why royals should not rub shoulders with humble subjects. A fact I’m sure they understand.

Prince Charles gets a bad press for apparently relying heavily on valets and servants but when he visited Upton after the 2007 floods I saw him go out of his way to start a conversation with a man drinking outside one of the local pubs.

They laughed about the man’s risque tattoo of a naked woman.

There was no doubt they were from different worlds but there was no hint of discomfort between them.

Hopefully, this visit will be the same.

In any case, please take a hard look around you for the truly deserving – and send their name in.