HER selflessness and concern for others is well known across Galashiels.

But when local publican Niki Fitzgerald first heard she had been nominated for a Golden Ticket for one of the first trains to run on the new Borders Railway she didn’t believe it.

“I thought was a prank!,” she told the Border Telegraph. “Who would nominate me?”

The news should come as no surprise. Niki is a pillar of the local community. She is a popular figure who has dedicated her life to helping others; be that in the form of charity work or support for local sports clubs.

The 67-year-old - who will turn 68 a day before the special journey on the line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank on September 5 - has been a trustee for Scottish HART for 30 years, and has raised thousands of pounds for worthy causes such as the Red Cross, Parkinsons and Macmillan Cancer Support to name but a few.

“It’s just the way I have been brought up,” she said. “I came to Galashiels 56 years ago from Italy. I was 11-years-old and I stayed with my auntie Marie Macari.

“I started out by doing old people’s hair or taking dinner around to them. It felt like the right thing to do. As I have got older, I have been in a fortunate position to help more people. So why wouldn’t I do so?”

Her work for Macmillan has recently taken on extra poignancy, after her her husband Richard was diagnosed with liver cancer last year. “He is doing really well, but it’s devastating,” said Niki. “He has been undergoing chemotherapy since June 2014. He is in remission now. But it has been a really tough period for us. “I didn’t expect to be nominated at all, but it’s nice to know that people are thinking of us. Richard is my rock. I wouldn’t have been able to do half the things I have over the past few years without him by my side.”

Despite her own battle with Obstructed Airwaves Disease, Niki is the longest serving publican in Galashiels. Niki’s Bar in Balmoral was named Scottish Community Bar of the Year in 2011. It was long overdue recognition for a place that has become part of the fabric of Galashiels life.

“We are a community, and when something is wrong, we try to help,” she said. “If somebody wants a party, all they have to do is bring people. We have got a music centre and I do the food for free. For funerals, all I ask is that they make a small donation in a bottle. At a time like that, I feel they have enough to worry about.” Since the bar first opened 28 years ago, Niki has insisted on providing free food.

“At that time, many of our customers were single parents, or pensioners,” explained Niki. “So I decided to put food out for them; just simple things like soup, stovies, macaroni cheese and toasties. We have never stopped since.” Her good deeds led to an invite to one of the Queen’s garden parties five years ago. She also attended the opening of the Scottish Parliament. But this latest recognition is something she will equally treasure.

“I have so many happy memories of the railway,” she said. “We would use the Pullman years ago, to travel to London for flights back to Italy. You had to get from London to Heathrow, and then you’d get a bus that took you to the airport. I did that for years, until the trains stopped running.

“Like everyone else at the time, we were devastated. Because you were cut away from everything. To have that link back will be important for the whole town.”