BEM for Saintfield man

BEM for Saintfield man

7 January 2015

SAINTFIELD’S Lawrence Murphy said he feels “humble and proud” to have been given a British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours.

His close links with the town’s hockey club and his work with the Saintfield Development Association resulted in him being nominated for the award.

Mr. Murphy — who is synonymous with his home town — feels honoured his efforts on behalf of the people of Saintfield have been recognised with the award of a BEM for services to sport and the community.

He joined Saintfield Hockey Club in 1974 and has fulfilled a number of roles on and off the field. Lawrence has been a junior coach with The Demesne outfit for 14 years and says sport has given him a lot over the years, helping him make many friends.

“Sport means a great deal to me,” he said. “Through sport I have met a lot of people from players to friends, club members to parents and juniors to officials and the local media.

“Sport is a great way to clear your head so thoughts will flow, especially when you have a list of things to do. Sport is also a foundation for good health, personal development and acceptance by your peers.”

Saintfield Town Regeneration Committee was formed in 2005 and 12 months later Mr. Murphy joined the organisation which is now known as the Saintfield Development Association. He is the group’s current treasurer.

“The organisation focuses on the needs of the community including those of local sports clubs,” the BEM recipient explained. “A feasibility study was commissioned in 2009 into a new community/sports centre in the town with work on an economic appraisal getting underway the following year. Both reports confirmed the need for new sports and community facilities.

“In 2013, a site was purchased with a sports development plan produced last November. It has been a long haul to get this far and we look forward to the new facility being delivered.”

Mr. Murphy explained one of the urgent challenges in Saintfield is securing money to provide a synthetic hockey pitch. He said if this fails, all home games will have to be played outside the town from the start of next season in line with new rules being enforced by the sport’s governing body.

The Saintfield man explained his involvement with the town’s Development Association has given him an opportunity to do something for the people of Saintfield and it’s a role he relishes.

He said the group organises the town’s Christmas Fair which has been revitalised in recent years and pointed to the success of other work the Development Association is involved with, including preparing for the Ulster In Bloom competition and street cleaning initiatives.

Mr. Murphy is a member of various sub-committees to oversee the wide range of work the Development Association, explaining the group’s latest project is a new landscape plan for Saintfield which will guide the work of future environmental and planting schemes.

“I have always a number of things on my to do list, whether big or small. As long as I prioritise and do not neglect my family and full-time job, I seem to be able to manage. At least so far.

“The BEM came as a great surprise, but I would not have been awarded it had it not been for my involvement with my local hockey club and the Development Association.”

Lawrence added: “I am very grateful for all the support and camaraderie of so many gifted and varied people. I am part of a team and that’s most important when it comes yo getting things done. I recently joined the Local Action Group for the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council which will play a key role in rural development and am looking forward to the role.”