Killyleagh man Jim delighted with MBE

Killyleagh man Jim delighted with MBE

8 June 2022

A DELIGHTED Jim Lindsay said the MBE he was awarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to education is something that he wants to share with others who have been a great support to him over many decades.

A letter informing him that he was to receive an MBE ped through his letterbox over a month ago and he admits that he read it a number of times before it started to sink in that he would be off to Buckingham Palace at some point in the future.

The Killyleagh man also revealed that it was particularly difficult to keep news of his award from his family as he was sworn to secrecy, admitting that he was relieved when he could finally tell them.

Mr Lindsay — who has been inundated with good wishes since the Birthday Honours List was formally announced — said he feels “very very humble”, but nonetheless delighted to have such an honour bestowed upon him.

“Many people have been congratulating me which of course is very nice and it is also very pleasing to have this award announced during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations,” he said.

Mr Lindsay has been rewarded for his major contribution to primary and post-primary education stretching over four decades.

“I am really delighted with the award,” he said. “It was difficult to keep it a secret before it was all official and I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have extended their good wishes to me.

“I read the letter informing me of the MBE every day and it slowly started to sink in that it was real. Once the news was officially published, the congratulations started to come in. The number of people who have contacted me or spoken to me about the award has been unbelievable. People have been really great.

“I was at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Killyleagh on Sunday and my granddaughter said she felt as though she was walking down the street with a film star,” he joked. “I do feel very humble to have been given this award.”

Mr Lindsay was chairman of the Board of Governors at the former Down Academy in Downpatrick — now Blackwater Integrated College — for a decade and has been associated with Killyleagh Primary School, which now also enjoys integrated status, for 40 years.

“I was very proud of my time with Down Academy, which was created following the merger of Quoile, Killyleagh and Castlewellan high schools,” he continued.

“To be at the helm of a such a new school was enjoyable and it secured the support of the parents of Downpatrick, Killyleagh and Castlewellan which was important. We had a great Board of Governors at Down Academy and it makes all the difference when you have good colleagues around you. It was great to be part of that particular team.”

Reflecting on his long association with the primary school in Killyleagh, Mr Lindsay said it is currently flourishing.

He has been chairman of the school’s Board of Governors for the past 20 years, witnessing a huge part in its history.

“I saw major change to create Down Academy and Killyleagh Primary is also now integrated and going from strength to strength,” said Mr Lindsay.

“Securing integrated status for Killyleagh Primary School gave me a lot of satisfaction. The school enjoyed the support of parents and the community. The change has been an outstanding success and we now have over 120 pupils, plus another 24 in the nursery school. It is absolutely fantastic to see these numbers.”

Mr Lindsay said he shares his MBE with the school governors he served alongside at Down Academy and Killyleagh Primary and their respective teaching and ancillary staff and Parent Teacher Associations.

He added: “All these people worked so hard to support pupils and parents and while I have been awarded the MBE, the accolade is down to a team effort by so many people I have been very fortunate to work alongside. In my opinion, they all deserve an award. What I want to do is share mine with them.”