ROYALLY REWARDED

This month Ulster Tatler features a selection of photographs from those members of the community recognised in the Birthday Honours.

LYNSEY AGNEW BEM

Miss Lynsey Anne Agnew was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to the Lisburn Foodbank, especially during the Covid-19 crisis.

“We started Lisburn Foodbank in 2013 and I have been involved since the very beginning discussions about offering this support in our community. As we became busier each year I eventually gave up my job to come on board full time at LCC Community Trust. We knew we needed to do more and as we explored our options we have now grown into a community organisation that offers support across a range of projects including; Lisburn Foodbank, Kickstart Social Supermarket, More than Food workshops and volunteering opportunities and our Wellbeing projects. We offer emergency food provision, longer term food support, help with budgeting and household management, income maximisation and debt advice. We also use a holistic approach to not only look at practical tools to improving someone’s situation but also to support their mental and emotional wellbeing through a mixture of group work and one-toone coaching.

In March 2020 we began to see a steep increase in demand for our services as news of the pandemic broke. By mid April we had jumped from supporting approximately 100 families per week to 400 per week. We had to completely restructure our model for service delivery to accommodate all the restrictions and keep our volunteers safe, while still being able to support the most vulnerable in our community. With our amazing team of staff and volunteers, and the support of our local community, we were able to continue this vital service, which many described as a lifeline.”

THOMAS HAIGHTON BEM

Mr Thomas David Haighton was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to Adults with Learning and Physical Disabilities.

“I am both honoured and humbled to receive a British Empire Medal for services to people with a Learning Disability. I am privileged to work with adults with a learning disability, and to be honest I get so much more from them than they do me. I have a real passion for the work I do and will continue to advocate for those I care for. We have come so far in raising awareness for people with a learning disability and ensuring they are seen as valued members of our society, but there is a lot more work to be done. Unfortunately the pandemic has seen people with a learning disability lose out on so much and become isolated with little or nothing to do, not to mention the additional pressures put on parents and carers. Now we are starting to come out the other side of the pandemic, I will ensure people with a learning disability once again have their voices heard and rights upheld.

At the age of 13 I started helping the Volunteers in Carrickfergus Junior Gateway. I continued this and became a volunteer myself in later years. Carrickfergus Senior Gateway were looking volunteers and I joined to help out at the age of 17; I became Gateway Leader in 2005 to present day. My experiences with Gateway led me to a career in Learning Disability and at the age of 16 I started working in Castleview Private Nursing Home; 3 years later I moved to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust as a Support Worker in Hawthorns Adult Centre. I have worked my way up through the years and am now Registered Manager of Hawthorns. My experience and knowledge gained have enabled me to make positive changes for those with a learning disability and one of my main highlights was Carrickfergus Senior Gateway hosting the first every Learning Disability Pride event held in Carrickfergus in 2017. This was a day that brought thousands of people together to support those with a learning disability and to show that they are valued members of society.

I take great pride in what I do and in everything I am involved with, but I couldn’t do all this on my own; my biggest support comes from my amazing family and also from those that work alongside me in all Learning Disability Services. I am pleased to accept this award on behalf of all of them.

Urbi Banerjee (Aecom) , Robin Swann and Deepika Gupta (Vice President Citi Bank NI).

Sanjay Ghosh, founder of ImageNation NI and organiser of the thanksgiving event and Belfast Lord Mayor, Kate Nicholl.

THANK YOU NORTHERN IRELAND

Belfast-based Indian community group ‘ImageNation NI’, hosted an event at Sandy Row Community Centre, with special guests Health Minister, Robin Swann and Belfast Lord Mayor, Kate Nicholl. The event was organised to thank Northern Ireland for providing essential oxygen generators to India as part of a Covid-19 relief effort. The community also extended their thanks to East Derry MLA Claire Sugden, who mediated the concerns from the Indian community to the Department of Health.

Robin Swann, MBE Bobby Rao (Irish cricketer) and Kate Nicholl (Lord Mayor).

FOSTER CARERS URGENTLY NEEDED IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Action for Children have made an urgent call for potential foster carers to come forward in Northern Ireland. Avery Bowser, Fostering Services Manager, explained: “The need is very great in Northern Ireland at the moment but the numbers coming forward have been too small. “We know that there are lots of people who have the space in their home to foster but they are often put off by myths about fostering. They think it’s only for certain types of people.

“We need people from different backgrounds and communities to become foster carers because our children are all so different.

“At Action for Children we provide foster families that have the warmth and stability that enable children to cope with the changes that life brings them. We do that by recruiting ordinary people, from all walks of life, who do something extraordinary – become a foster carer.”

Avery is asking readers to think about fostering or encourage someone else who could foster.

“All kinds of people can foster. You have to be over 21, have a spare room, the ability to work with children and have the time in your life to give.

“So please give our friendly fostering team a call. The need in Belfast is very urgent and I am appealing for your help.” If you are interested in becoming a foster carer or would like to find out more, please contact Action for Children’s fostering team on 028 9046 0500 or email fostercareni@actionforchildren.org.uk

Former QUB Mechanical Engineering colleagues Professor Robert Fleck, Doctor Robert Kee and Ray McCullough BEM are reunited at the Celebration Day.

Author Paul McClean and Ray McCullough BEM present two copies of the book ‘Ray McCullough the Dromara Destroyer’ to QUB Chief Librarian Irene Bittles.

MOTORCYCLING LEGEND

Dromara man, Ray McCullough, who won an incredible 175 races between 1960 and 1982, was recognised in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours list, when he was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM), for his services to motorcycling. As chief technician, Ray worked for 38 years in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at QUB alongside Professor Gordon Blair and Professor Robert Fleck on cutting edge engine development with highprofi le manufacturer Yamaha. A DVD on his racing career entitled ‘Ray McCullough Held in Admiration’ is raising vital funds for the Children’s Kidney Fund NI Charity. Photos by Rowland White, David McClean and Paul McClean.

. Motorcycle racing greats Trevor Steele, MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams,

Denis Todd and Johnny Rea Senior attended to pay tribute to local hero

Ray McCullough BEM.

Ray winning at the Carrowdore 100 in 1980.

zzzz Dromara Destroyers supporters club founder member David

Wallace with Ray McCullough BEM at the Queens event. Former Moto GP star Jeremy McWilliams and his wife Jill pictured with Ray McCullough BEM.