Linda McCartney is the first winner of a national award set up by a society for vegetarians.
The Vegetarian Society Achievement Award, organised in association with Fry's Chocolate Cream, was created to reward an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to vegetarianism.
Mary McCartney received the award on behalf of her mother at a gala ball at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
Linda lived at Peasmarsh, near Rye, until her death from cancer in 1998.
The society said she changed the image of vegetarianism more than any other individual in living memory, bringing vegetarian food into the supermarket and developing new products.
The nominations were made by members of the society and visitors to its website.
Society chief executive Tina Fox said: "It is wonderful to see Linda is still recognised as the pioneer in vegetarian food."
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