IT'S not every gran that jets off to a war-torn country to help feed and educate destitute orphans for a decade.

So it was fitting that the Queen recognised 75-year-old Maria Maw's incredible efforts for the poverty stricken children of Uganda in her New Year's Honours list.

But the MBE didn't cut much ice with Maria, who simply said God had done all the hard work...she had just fulfilled her calling.

Maria, who has recently moved from Macclesfield to Ingleton, said: "The first day in Uganda I was slightly despairing because it was so different from Macclesfield, but I had no fears at all and soon took to it like a duck to water.

"I had a job to do, and the children, they are so lovely! It was all worthwhile, although it was hard at times.

"I began by teaching a few children under a tree, but we finished up with 500 orphans and a fantastic building. It made me so happy to see them learn."

The amazing tale began when mum-of-three Maria, who also has ten grandchildren, attended a talk highlighting the plight of the people of Uganda at the George Street Baptist Church meeting, in Macclesfield.

It inspired her to pack her bags and jet off for Jinja - with no financial backing - and head to Kamuli.

At the sprightly age of 65, Maria's mission was to help establish the Ugandan Baptist Library.

But she threw herself into several of her own enterprises as well, which resulted in the creation of The Training School of Life Skills, an orphanage, school for the deaf and primary school.

Maria's enthusiasm also inspired people in Macclesfield to form the Christian Relief Uganda charity.

The achievements are all the more remarkable because she set to work in a divided country with a depressing recent history punctuated by bloody civil wars, continuing border strife, deep ethnic divisions and an AIDs epidemic.

Maria said: "It was quite peaceful where I was, but it was also one of the poorest districts, and rough.

"There was no water or electricity, and nothing at all out there, even the shops were empty.

"A seven month long dry season didn't help. But before the dictator Idi Amin wreaked misery across the country in the 1970s, Uganda was known as the Pearl of Africa."

Even collecting water was an ordeal. Maria had to travel three times a week driving a battered truck to a spring 20 miles away.

She recalled: "I had to fill 18 Jerry cans, I told the children it was how I got my grey hair.

"But I would stand under the spring and be drenched by water. It was magnificent."

In 1991 the multi-skilled Maria began teaching young adults about family planning, budgeting, hygiene, literacy, sewing and cooking.

By 1995, when one of Maria's Macclesfield pals Rhona Marshall flew out to meet her, she cared for 38 orphans - her 'family' - and had converted three warehouses into dormitories and educational facilities.

Christian Relief Uganda (CRU) was formed by Macclesfield people to help fund her ambitious projects and ensure her work continued.

The results are obvious. For example, a former pupil, Harriet, now teaches at Maria's school for the deaf, and many other children have now invaluable skills and qualifications to help them make a living.

But Maria has found it hard settling back into life in England.

She said: "I'm suffering from depression because I feel very lost, and am not used to sitting back and doing nothing.

"It is difficult leaving a place of such poverty and being here and seeing people who are so miserable even though they have so much."

Rhona, who lives in Tytherington and gave up her job to work for CRU, said Maria fully deserved the Queen's recognition.

She said: "We are thrilled. She is a fantastic woman who trusted God to help her through everything, and many times she lived with children on the edge.

"With no money for food, lodgings or education she showed truly remarkable grit and determination."

To help fund CRU's work, please write a cheque payable to CRU and send it to Wendy Moseley at 60 Roewood Lane, Macclesfield, SK10 2PQ.