Co Armagh rugby legend Rory Best has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours announced tonight (Friday).
The Poyntzpass sporting ace was named in April as one of 11 players to line out for Warren Garland’s 41-man squad for the British and Irish Lions tour.
Since taking over the captaincy of Ireland, Rory Best has overseen an historic run of results for his country, culminating in this second Lions Tour.
It was a huge honour for the 34-year-old to have been selected for the tour which began in New Zealand 13 days ago.
But another honour has now been added for Rory Best – his date to rub shoulders with Royalty at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen’s Birthday Honours have been revealed tonight, with Rory picking up his gong for services to rugby.
The award will make him one happy hooker!”
His is one of 18 OBEs to have been awarded.
The full list of those named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, in all categories, is as follows:
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
| Award | Title | Forenames | Surname | Gazette Citation |
| CBE | Mr | John Edward | CUNNINGHAM | Managing Director, Camlin Ltd. For services to the Business Community in Northern Ireland.
|
| CBE | Professor | Norma Margaret | DAWSON, QC
|
Professor of Law, Queen’s University, Belfast. For services to Legal Education and the Development of the Legal Profession in Northern Ireland.
|
| CBE | Mr | Bernard Cornelius | MCCAUGHEY
|
Director of Rehabilitation, Northern Ireland Prison Service. For public service.
|
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
| Award | Title | Forenames | Surname | Gazette Citation |
| OBE | Mr | Rory | BEST | For services to Rugby. |
| OBE | Mr | Michael | CECIL | Chairman, Rathlin Development and Community Association. For services to Community Development on Rathlin Island.
|
| OBE | Mr | Hugh | CONNOR | Director, Centre for Effective Services. For services to Social Care.
|
| OBE | Mr | James Gareth | COOPER | Chief Executive, Middletown Centre for Autism Ltd. For services to Children with Special Educational Needs.
|
| OBE | Professor | Margaret
Elizabeth |
CUPPLES | Professor of General Practice, Queen’s University, Belfast and General Practitioner. For services to Higher Education and Healthcare in Northern Ireland.
|
| OBE | Mr | Colm Francis | DAVIS | Principal, Tor Bank School. For services to Children with Special Educational Needs.
|
| OBE | Professor | Christopher Trevor | ELLIOTT | Pro-Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Queens University, Belfast. For services to the Agri-Food Supply Chain.
|
| OBE | Dr | Caro-Lynne Tanya Mary | FERRIS | Director, Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland. For services to Countryside Recreation in Northern Ireland.
|
| OBE | Mr | Julian Keith | GETTY | For services to Music and Modern Hymn Writing. |
| OBE | Mr | William | GOWDY | Director of Engineering Procurement, Northern Ireland Water. For services to Civil Engineering and Education.
|
| OBE | Miss | Mary Winifred Gloria | HUNNIFORD | For services to Cancer charities through Breast Screening Services and Cancer Support.
|
| OBE | Mr | Norman Robert | LYNAS | Chairman, Lynas Foodservice. For services to the Business Sector, to charity and the community in Northern Ireland.
|
| OBE | Mrs | Catherine Brenda | MCCALLUM
|
Director, Rural Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland Executive. For services to Government and the community. |
| OBE | Dr | Elizabeth | MITCHELL | Chief Executive, Institute of Public Health in Northern Ireland. For services to Public Health.
|
| OBE | Mr | Graham | SHIELDS | Lately, Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland. For services to Electoral Democracy. |
| OBE | Mr | David Rutherford | STEWART | Business Unit Head, H.M. Revenue and Customs. For services to the Promotion of Investment in Northern Ireland. |
| OBE | Mr | Austin William | TREACY
|
Governor, Northern Ireland Prison Service. For services to Reducing Re-offending and Community Safety. |
| OBE | Professor | Mahendra Pratap Singh
|
VARMA | For services to Cardiology in Northern Ireland. |
Members of the Order of the British Empire
| Award | Title | Forenames | Surname | Gazette Citation |
| MBE | Miss | Judith Elizabeth | ALLEN | For voluntary service to the community in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Mr | Ralph Gunther | BAUER | Chair, Franklin Group. For services to Textiles Manufacturing in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Mrs | Gwyneth Noelle | BUCHANAN | Sergeant, Police Service of Northern Ireland. For services to Policing and the community in Northern Ireland. |
| MBE | Mr | John Murray | CAMERON | Trustee, RUCGC Foundation. For voluntary service to the community in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Mr | William James | CAMPBELL | For services to Agriculture. |
| MBE | Mr | Robert James Kennedy
|
CARDWELL | For services to the RNLI and the community in Northern Ireland. |
| MBE | Mrs | Elizabeth Iris | CORRY | Volunteer, The Salvation Army. For charitable services to the community.
|
| MBE | Mr | Alan | CORRY-FINN | Vice President of Trustees, Northern Ireland Hospice and Director of Nursing, Primary Care and Older People, Western Health and Social Care Trust. For services to Nursing.
|
| MBE | Mr | Steven | DAVIS | Captain, Northern Ireland Football Team. For services to Football. |
| MBE | Mr | John Joseph | DONNELLY | Chairman, SDC Trailers. For services to Economic Development in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Alderman | Allan George | EWART | For services to Local Government and the community in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Ms | Elizabeth | GRIFFITH | Policy Officer, Law Centre NI. For services to Vulnerable People.
|
| MBE | Dr | Robert William | HARDEMAN | Deputy Chair, NI Science Industry Panel. For services to the Advanced Manufacturing, Materials and Engineering Sector in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Mrs | Dian Joyce | HEANEY | For voluntary service to the community in Craigavon, Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Mr | Columb | HENRY JP DL | For services to the community in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Ms | Alyson | HOGG | Founder and Owner, Vita Liberata. For services to Economic Development in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Ms | Mary Elizabeth
(Moya) |
JOHNSTON | Group Vice President, OEM Businesses, Survitec Group Ltd. For services to Economic Development in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Mr | Maurice William | LEE | For services to Scouting in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Ms | June Martha Marshall | LOGAN | For services to Disability Sport.
|
| MBE | Mrs | Anne Irene | LOVE | Volunteer Manager, Western Health and Social Care Trust. For services to the community in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Mrs | Jennifer Ann | MARSHALL | Principal, Belmont Nursery School, Londonderry. For services to Education.
|
| MBE | Mrs | Laura | MCCARTNEY | Assistant Director, Employment Services, Disability Action. For services to Disabled People and their Families in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Pastor | John | MCKEE | Pastor, New Life City Church and Director of City Life Centre. For services to the community in the Shankill and Falls area in Belfast.
|
| MBE | Dr | Sharon Elizabeth Anne | MCMURRAY | For services to Children with Literacy Difficulties and to those with Special Educational Needs.
|
| MBE | Ms | Johann Cathy | MULDOON | For services to Business and Architecture.
|
| MBE | Mr | Fergal Joseph | O’BRIEN | For services to Social Work Practice.
|
| MBE | Mr | James Ernest | PERRY | For services to the community in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. |
| MBE | Mr | John Raymond Cochrane | POLLOCK | For charitable services to the community. |
| MBE | Mr | Jonathan | REA | For services to Motorcycle Racing. |
| MBE | Ms | Margot | ROBERTS | Lately Administrative Director, Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency. For services to Medical and Dental Education.
|
| MBE | Dr | Cherith | SEMPLE | Macmillan Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust. For services to Nursing.
|
| MBE | Mrs | Michele | SHIRLOW | Chief Executive, Food Northern Ireland. For services to the Food and Drink Sector in Northern Ireland.
|
| MBE | Mr | Hugh Robert James | TOTTEN | For services to the community in Northern Ireland. |
| MBE | Mrs | Carol | WALKER | Director, Somme Association. For services to Commemoration and Reconciliation. |
| MBE | Mr | Robert James Barton | YOUNG | Chair, Board of Governors, Foyle College and Governor, Ebrington Primary School. For services to Education in Northern Ireland.
|
Medallist of the Order of the British Empire
| Award | Title | Forenames | Surname | Gazette Citation |
| BEM | Mr | Fergus Allan | BARKLIE | For services to Tennis |
| BEM | Miss | Valerie | BLACK | For services to the community in Cookstown, County Tyrone |
| BEM | Mrs | Margaret Elizabeth Mary | BROWN | For services to Music in Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mr | Clifford
Keith |
BURNS | For services to the community in Newtownards, County Down
|
| BEM | Mrs | Elizabeth Marilyn | CAMPBELL | For services to the Girlguiding in Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mr | Alan Alexander | CLARKE | For services to the community in Northern Ireland through Dance Education
|
| BEM | Mrs | Jean | CLARKE | For services to Riding for the Disabled Association, Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mr | John James | COCHRANE | For services to Sport and the community in Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Miss | Mandy | CUNNINGHAM | For services to Bowling |
| BEM | Mr | Joseph Henry | CURRY | For services to Charitable Fundraising in County Tyrone
|
| BEM | Mrs | Mary | DIAMOND | For services to Cancer Support |
| BEM | Mr | Mervyn John | DOUGAN | For services to Older People in Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mrs | Pamela Joyce | DRUMMOND | For voluntary service |
| BEM | Mrs | Margaret Elizabeth | GALBRAITH | For services to foster care in Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mrs | Priscilla Lyons | GAMBLE | For voluntary service to the community in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mr | Phillip Robert | GILLESPIE | For charitable services in Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mr | Alastair | GILMORE | For services to Higher Education and to the community in Antrim, Northern Ireland |
| BEM | Mr | Samuel Johnston | GRAY | Organist and Choirmaster, Ballyholme Presbyterian Church Bangor, Northern Ireland. For charitable services. |
| BEM | Mrs | Joan Thelma | GREEN | Chair, Homestart Craigavon. For services to Children and Families in Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mrs | Eileen Alicia | HAMILTON | For services to the community in Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mrs | Marie | HAWTHORNE | Escort for Lord-Lieutenant Cadets, Northern Ireland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. For voluntary service to the Army Cadet Force. |
| BEM | Mrs | Elizabeth | HUESTON | Writer. For services to the community in Portglenone, County Antrim |
| BEM | MR | James George Francis William
|
LESLIE | For voluntary service to Police Welfare in Northern Ireland |
| BEM | Mr | Ian Bradley | MACDONALD | For services to Citizens’ Advice Bureau and the community in Lisburn
|
| BEM | Mr | Joe | MAHON | For services to charity and Cross Community Relations in Fermanagh |
| BEM | Mr | Edward | MARCUS | Chairman, Maysfield Support Group. For services to the Cancer Fund for Children
|
| BEM | Mr | Samuel James | MAWHINNEY | Director, Denholm Fish Selling Company Ltd. For services to the Fishing Industry and community in County Down
|
| BEM | Mrs | Elizabeth | MCCANN | For services to Criminal Justice |
| BEM | Mrs | Mary | MCCARTHY | For voluntary service |
| BEM | Mr | Ian | McDONNELL | For services to the community in the Ards Peninsula, Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mr | James Duncan McKay | McNEILL | For services to the community in Broughshane and the Glens, Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mr | Arthur Alexander | MITCHELL | For voluntary service to the Ex-Service community in Lisburn
|
| BEM | Mr | David Henry | MONTGOMERY | Member, Ballymena Combat Cancer Group. For services to Cancer Sufferers in Northern Ireland |
| BEM | Mr | Cornelius Peter | O’HARE | Caretaker, Southern Regional College, Newry West Campus. For services to Further Education in Northern Ireland
|
| BEM | Mrs | Marie | RAFFERTY | For services to the community in Newry and Mourne
|
| BEM | Miss | Agnes Margaret | RINGLAND | Lately Postmistress, Crossgar Post Office. For services to the community in Crossgar, County Down
|
| BEM | Mr | Robert Philip | SCOTT | For services to Young People through the Scout Association |
| BEM | Mrs | Margaret | STEWART | Guide Leader and Volunteer. For services to the community in Aughnacloy, County Tyrone
|
| BEM | Mrs | Priscilla Carol | STIRLING | For services to Youth Sport in Carrickfergus
|
| BEM | Mr | Alan Frederick | STURGEON | For services to Rugby |
| BEM | Mr | Samuel
James |
THOMPSON | For voluntary service to the community and ex-Service Personnel in Portadown |
| BEM | Sister | Annie Grace | WATT | For services to Peace and Reconciliation in Larne
|
Queen’s Police Medal (QPM)
| Award | Title | Forenames | Surname | Gazette Citation |
| QPM | Mr | Nigel | FORSYTHE | Detective Chief Superintendent, Police Service of Northern Ireland, For services to Policing. |
| QPM | Mr | Douglas Gareth | WILSON | Sergeant, Police Service of Northern Ireland, For services to Policing. |
| QPM | Mr | William Thomas Colin | MONTEITH | Detective Sergeant, Police Service of Northern Ireland, For services to Policing. |
Queen’s Ambulance Medal (QAM)
| Award | Title | Forenames (s) | Surname | Gazette Citation |
| QAM | Mr | George | STOTT | Training Officer, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. |
