CHURCHGOER Bernard McCormick may be a humble man, but he is a humble man who has just been honoured by the Pope.

The 86-year-old, of Allestree, has been given the Benemerenti medal, conferred by the head of the Catholic church on those who have given long and exceptional service.

Not that it makes any difference to pensioner Bernard.

He said he intends to go on doing what he has done for the last five decades – helping oil the cogs at St Mary's Church, often quite literally.

The former engineer has become the church's unofficial maintenance man, "working his socks off" on everything from cutting hedges to looking after the bells in the tower.

He said the award had come has a surprise.

"I'm pleased," he said. "I did not expect anything like this. That's as much as I can say, really – it's a great honour."

The medal and commendation – which date back to before Victorian times – were presented to Bernard during Mass at the church he first started attending 49 years ago.

Bernard was born in Bangor in 1923 and, as a youth, was an altar server in his parish in Flint.

For most of his life he worked in the engineering industry and moved to Derby in 1960 after marrying his wife, Margaret. His skills were soon put to work at St Mary's, in Bridge Gate.

Over the years, his expertise has been "invaluable" to the parish, according to church bosses.

He has carried out a two-page list of self-imposed duties, including rodding the drains, cutting hedges and orchestrating repairs.

That is in addition to more church-oriented tasks such as changing the tunes in the bell tower and preparing the fire for the Easter vigil service.

He also collects, counts and banks offertory monies and locks up the church after evening mass.

"I do the things I do because I enjoy them," he said. "You do not anticipate getting honours like this. I do a lot of small bits and pieces.

"Like I said, I'm pleased, but I'm also a little embarrassed."

The Benemerenti medal was instituted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 and has the word Benemerenti – meaning to a well-deserving person – on its face.

It is surrounded by a crown of oak leaves and the ribbon is made of Papal colours.

Bernard was nominated for the accolade by Father Tim O'Sullivan, parish priest of St Mary's. The church must ask the Vatican for consent to give the medal.

He was presented with the award by Father John Guest, vicar general of the Nottingham diocese, on behalf of Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon, Bishop of Nottingham.

Chris Parkinson, from the church, said: "We are absolutely delighted for Bernard because he is an absolute gem. He really does work his socks off.

"The number of hours he puts in for the church is incredible.

"He was not looking for any recognition, but the parish felt that, with his continued work, it was only fair. It was all kept secret from him – I think he was very surprised by it."

The pensioner joins two of his fellow long-serving parishioners in receiving the honour. In 2002, Frank Barke and Bill Grattidge also received Benemerenti medals for their years of service to St Mary's.