Delight as Benburb’s champion charity couple Neville and Myrtle Pogue named in New Year Honours

A Co Armagh husband and wife, who have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity over many years of selfless work and dedication, have each been awarded the BEM in the Queen’s New Years Honours List.

Neville Pogue and his wife Myrtle (couple pictured holding left cheque above), from Benburb, are recognised for their services to ‘charitable fundraising’.

The couple are volunteers and ambassadors for the Southern Area Hospice Services.

Among their many endeavours and fundraising channels over the years has been a stall at the Shambles Market in Armagh, and regular coffee mornings and other events at their Maydown Road home.

They also regularly attend events and presentations on behalf of the Southern Area Hospice to accept cheques for the proceeds from other groups’ and organisations’ fundraising activities.

Meanwhile, Armagh native Professor Paddy Gray (pictured below left) is made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Professor Gray is the chair of Connswater Homes Ltd, in Belfast, and is awarded his OBE for services to housing in Northern Ireland.

A noted authority on housing and a highly respected figure in the world of academia, he grew up in Armagh during the 1960s and 1970s. And, while he is now a resident of Derry City, he considers himself an Armachian through and through.

In recent years he made a documentary on the so-called ‘Tin Town’ homes, pre-fab structures in evidence in a number of Armagh estates, including his own boyhood home at Daires Willows.

Professor Gray also chaired the first ever European Network for Housing Research conference and led a team of dignitaries on a tour of the city for this major event in 2016.

He has picked up numerous awards and accolades throughout a career spanning many years.

In 2011, he was awarded an honorary Fellowship from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

And in 2014 he was proclaimed Belfast Ambassador of the Year by Visit Belfast.

In London the following year, Professor Gray – who is housing business development director at the Armagh-based Homecare Independent Living Ireland – won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Work Experience at the National Undergraduates Employability Awards UK.

Two years later brought further recognition when he was bestowed the title of ‘top power player in housing’ in the UK by 24 Housing.

This will be the second major cause for celebration for him in consecutive months; and while December may have delivered a gong, November delivered a precious little girl, with the arrival of his first grandchild, baby Dearbhla!

The New Years Honours list – details of which have been unveiled tonight (Friday) – also brings seasonal good news for veteran Ulster Unionist Alderman Kenneth Twyble.

The Portadown-based councillor’s honour is awarded for services to local government, education and the community in Craigavon.

Mr Twyble is a lay preacher within the Methodist Church and founding captain of the 7th Company (Boys’ Brigade) at Edenderry in Portadown.

There is a BEM too for Michael John Armand Gaillard, producer and director of the Gilford-based Stage Aid, who is recognised for charitable services.

The popular and talented songwriter and playwright Armand established the charity in 1985, inspired by what was being achieved through celebrated famous faces from the musical world with the global Live Aid shows.

Stage Aid has raised tens of thousands of pounds over the past 34 years, with the proceeds going to support those in poverty and ill-health in Third World countries.

Former pro fighter turned trainer Bernard McComiskey, is awarded the BEM for services to boxing and the community in Gilford.

And also receiving the BEM is Oliver Garfield Laffin, who collects his gong for services to the Reserve Forces and the community in Counties Armagh and Down.

Meanwhile, Yvonne Mulholland, the principal of Presentation Primary School in Portadown, is awarded an MBE for services to education.

And the MBE also goes to Catherine Shipman, student activities coordinator at the Southern Regional College, for services to students and young people in Counties Armagh and Down.

Congratulations to all!

A full list of New Years’ Honours recipients is as follows:

Order of the Bath

Companions of the Order of the Bath

 

Award	Title	Forenames	Surname	Gazette Citation
CB	Mr	Noel Henry	LAVERY	Permanent Secretary, Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland Executive. For services to Government in Northern Ireland.

 

Order of the British Empire

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

 

Award	Title	Forenames	Surname	Gazette Citation
CBE	Mr	Alastair David	HAMILTON	Chief Executive Officer, Invest NI. For services to Economic Development in Northern Ireland.
CBE	Ms	Cheryl	LAMONT	For services to Criminal Justice.

 

Order of the British Empire

Officers of the Order of the British Empire

 

Award	Title	Forenames	Surname	Gazette Citation
OBE	Mr	Andrew George	BROWNE	Secretary, Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry. For services to victims and survivors of abuse.
OBE	Ms	Wilma Isobel	ERSKINE-HEGGARTY B.E.M.	Lately Club Secretary, Royal Portrush Golf Club. For services to Tourism and Golf in Northern Ireland.
OBE	Professor	Patrick Francis	GRAY	Chair, Connswater Homes Limited. For services to Housing in Northern Ireland.
OBE	Mr	John	HEALY	Managing Director, Allstate Northern Ireland. For services to the Economy in Northern Ireland.
OBE	Mrs	Olive Paula	HILL	Executive Director, Invest Northern Ireland. For services to the Economy in Northern Ireland.
OBE	Mr	Gary	LIGHTBODY	For services to Music and charity in Northern Ireland.
OBE	Mr	Timothy	LOSTY	Director, Northern Ireland Bureau China. For services to International and Community Relations.
OBE	Professor	Maria Louise	MCHUGH	Professor of Organisational Behaviour Ulster University and lately Dean, Ulster University Business School. For services to Higher Education and Business Development.
OBE	Professor	Alan	SMITH	UNESCO Chair in Education, Ulster University.  For services to Education.
OBE	Dr	Anthony Baxter	STEVENS	For services to Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland.
OBE	Mr	Mercer Lindsay	TODD	Commissioner, Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission. For services to the Justice Sector.

 

Order of the British Empire

Members of the Order of the British Empire

 

Award	Title	Forenames	Surname	Gazette Citation
MBE	Mr	Robert David	BOYD	For services to the Arts and to the community in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Mrs	Emily Florence	BRUNT	For voluntary service to Education and the community in the West of Northern Ireland.
MBE	Mr	Raymond Michael	BURROWS	For services to the Ulster Aviation Society, Heritage Sector and to the community in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Mrs	Maureen Winifred	CAMPBELL	For services to Fostering in County Tyrone.
MBE	Mrs	Paula Marie	DAWSON	Deputy Principal, Finance and Governance Manager, Northern Ireland Executive. For services to Public Inquiries in Northern Ireland.
MBE	The Very Reverend	David	DELARGY	For services to Music and charity in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Mr	Andrew Robert	FREEBURN	Chief Superintendent, Police Service of Northern Ireland. For services to Policing and the community in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Mrs	Tracy Helen Pringle	HAMILTON	Director, Mash Direct. For services to the Northern Ireland Agri-Food Sector.
MBE	Mr	Aaron William	HUGHES	For services to Football.
MBE	Mrs	Karen Jayne	HUTCHINSON	Head, Northern Ireland Security Guard Service. For services to Defence.
MBE	Mrs	Antonia (Toni)	JOHNSON	For services to the Arts and the community in County Fermanagh.
MBE	Mrs	Roseann	KELLY	Chief Executive Officer, Women in Business. For services to Economic Development in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Ms	Angela	LYNAM	Playgroup Leader, Kindertee Community Playgroup, Derrylin. For services to Education.
MBE	Professor	Francis Ronald	LYONS	Associate Dean for Research and Impact, Ulster University. For services to Higher Education and Music.
MBE	Professor	William Michael	MAWHINNEY	Lately Head, Medicines Regulatory Group. For services to Pharmacy, Medicines Regulation and Public Safety.
MBE	Mrs	Kay Louise	MADDIESON	Northern Ireland Office. For public service in Northern Ireland.
MBE	The Very Reverend	Stephen Patrick	MCBREARTY	For services to Criminal Justice.
MBE	Dr	Michael Gerard	MCKILLOP	For services to Disability Awareness and Athletics in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Mr	Philip	MCLAUGHLIN	Lately Branch Manager, Strathfoyle Library. For services to the community in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Ms	Yvonne	MULHOLLAND	Principal, Presentation Primary School, Portadown. For services to Education.
MBE	Ms	Eileen Rose	MULLAN	For voluntary service in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Mrs	Ciara Angela	NICHOLL	Administrative Officer, Enniskillen Jobs and Benefits Office. For services to Bereaved Families in the UK and Ireland.
MBE	Reverend	Eugene Damien	O’HAGAN	For services to Music and charity in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Reverend	Martin	O’HAGAN	For services to Music and charity in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Mrs	Catherine	SHIPMAN	Lately Student Activities Coordinator, Southern Regional College. For services to Students and Young People in County Down and County Armagh.
MBE	Mr	William John	SNODDY	For services to the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland.
MBE	Mrs	Jiemin	TOMITA	For services to the Chinese community in Northern Ireland.

 

Order of the British Empire

Medallist of the Order of the British Empire 

 

Award	Title	Forenames	Surname	Gazette Citation
BEM	Mr	William John	ARMSTRONG	Reserve Constable, Police Service of Northern Ireland. For services to Policing.
BEM	Ms	Martha Rosalind Elizabeth	BLOOMFIELD	For voluntary service to the community in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Leslie Alan	CARSWELL	For voluntary service to Scouting in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Gary Robert	CHAMBERS	Head of Estates and Facilities Management, South Eastern Regional College, Northern Ireland. For services to Education.
BEM	Mrs	Mary Adams	CORKUM	Building Supervisor, Ballywalter Primary School. For services to Education.
BEM	Mrs	Margaret Roslyn	DAVIDSON	For services to MacMillan Cancer Support in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	William Joseph	EAMES	For services to the RAF and the community in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
BEM	Mr	James William Murray	FAIRBAIRN	For services to the community in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Frederick Ivor	FERGUSON	For services to the community in Londonderry.
BEM	Mr	Michael John Armand	GAILLARD	Producer and Director, Stage Aid. For charitable services.
BEM	Mr	Thomas Harold	GARDINER	For services to Business, Employment and the community in Belfast.
BEM	Mr	John Alexander	GIBSON	For services to the community in Belfast.
BEM	Mr	Geoffrey Alan	HEGARTY	For services to Young People through the Scouting Movement in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Oliver Garfield	LAFFIN	For services to the Reserve Forces and the community in County Down and County Armagh.
BEM	Ms	Frances	LAVERY	For services to Fostering in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mrs	Letty	LUCAS	For services to Tennis and charity in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Barry	MACAULAY	For services to Disability Sport.
BEM	Mr	George Martin	MACE	For services to Sport and the community in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	George	MANN	For services to Young People through the Scouting Movement in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Connor	MCCARROLL	For services to Running and charity in County Tyrone.
BEM	Mr	Bernard	MCCOMISKEY	For services to Boxing and the community in Gilford, County Down.
BEM	Mr	Bernard Thomas	MCCULLAGH	Staff Officer, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland Executive. For voluntary service to the community in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	John Alexander	MCILRATH	For services to Sport in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Irwyn	MCKIBBIN	For services to the community through the Heartbeat NI charity.
BEM	Mr	John Brian	MCMASTER	For services to the Army Cadet Force in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Ms	Sonya	MCMULLAN	Regional Services Manager, Women’s Aid Northern Ireland.  For services to Victims of Domestic and Sexual Abuse in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	John Joseph Laurence	MCNALLY	For services to Fundraising and the community in Portrush.
BEM	Mr	Paul	MICHAEL	For services to Local Government in Antrim and Newtownabbey.
BEM	Mr	Robert John	MONTGOMERY	Chair, Board of Governors, Castlederg High School and Edwards Primary School. For voluntary service to Education in Castlederg.
BEM	Mrs	Alison Sally Glenn	MULLAN	Security Guard, Health and Social Care Board, Belfast. For services to Healthcare and the community in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Father	Patrick Kevin	MULLAN	For services to Inter-Church Collaboration and Community Relations in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Simon	NEILL	For services to Music and Community Relations in Belfast.
BEM	Ms	Susannah Virginia	O’NEILL	Bus Driver and Safety Coordinator. For services to Public Transport and to the community in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Barry John	PHILLIPS	For services to Employment and Equality in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Miss	Heather Angela	PLATT	For services to Sports Development in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	James Neville	POGUE	For services to Charitable Fundraising in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mrs	Myrtle Winifred	POGUE	For services to Charitable Fundraising in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Gerard Liam	POWER	For services to Volunteering, Fundraising and the community in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mrs	Alison	REDDICK	For services to People with Disabilities in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Brian	REID	For services to Rugby in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	John (Jack) Alexander	REID	For services to Sport in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Alan	ROSS	For services to the community in Ballymena.
BEM	Mr	Andrew Conrad	ROWAN	For services to Music and the community in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mrs	Alison Doreen	SMITH	For services to the community in East Belfast.
BEM	Mr	Robert Jeffery	SMITH	For service to Policing and the community in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mrs	Lynda Joan	STOREY	Executive Officer, Pay and Allowances, HM Prison Service Headquarters. For public and charitable services.
BEM	Mr	Norman Alexander	TAYLOR T.D.	For services to the community in Londonderry.
BEM	Mr	Thomas Kenneth	TAYLOR	For services to Business and the community in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Robert	THOMPSON	For services to Commemoration and Remembrance in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	Michael	TODD	For services to Horse Racing and Business in Northern Ireland.
BEM	Mr	James Kenneth	TWYBLE	For services to Local Government, Education and the community in Craigavon.
BEM	Mrs	Denyse Kathleen	WALKER	Home Start Organiser. For services to Family Welfare in Northern Ireland.

 

Queen’s Police Medal (QPM)

 

Award	Title	Forenames	Surname	Gazette Citation
QPM	Mrs	Julie Dawn	FORSYTHE	Detective Sergeant, Police Service of Northern Ireland.
QPM	Mr	David	LOWANS	Detective Inspector, Police Service of Northern Ireland.
QPM	Mr	David James	MCILWAINE	Sergeant, Police Service of Northern Ireland.

 

Queen’s Fire Service Medal (QFSM)

 

Award	Title	Forenames	Surname	Gazette Citation
QFSM	Mr	David	HARBINSON	Station Commander, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue service.

 

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