College lecturer, clergyman and preservation treasurer honoured

College lecturer, clergyman and preservation treasurer honoured

1 January 2013

THREE local people have been awarded MBEs in the New Years Honours and are making plans to head to Buckingham Palace later in 2013 to receive their awards.

They are Newcastle woman Mrs. Barbara Judge, the Venerable William John Scott and Charles William McMurray, both from Ballynahinch.

Mrs. Judge, who is a teacher tutor at the South Eastern Regional College’s campus in Downpatrick, was awarded the MBE in recognition of her services to further education.

The Newcastle woman has been teaching for 30 years and admits that when she received the letter informing her of MBE, she was unable to take in the news.

“When the letter arrived with the Cabinet Office mark on it I thought it was something to do with advertising to get me to open it and I nearly threw the letter in the bin,” she revealed.

“I am shocked that someone has nominated me, but also really delighted. I think that extraordinary things can happen to ordinary people and I am certainly and ordinary person. I am absolutely delighted,” she said.

Mrs. Judge said she is looking forward to going to the Palace to formally receive her MBE.

Mr. Scott, who has been living in Ballynahinch for a year, was awarded his MBE in recognition of his voluntary service to the Air Training Corps in Northern Ireland.

“I have been Wing Padre which covers all of Northern Ireland and associated with many different squadrons over the years,” he explained.

A former Church of Ireland rector at Seapatrick in Banbridge where he ministered for 20 years, Mr. Scott previously ministered in Bangor and is a former Archdeacon of Dromore.

“It was a great surprise to be nominated for an MBE. You do not expect honours like that out of the blue. It was a lovely surprise. It is special that someone has taken the trouble to nominate me,” he said.

“I have been doing this wing job for 30-plus years and I suppose when you start going past milestones people put your name up for these things.”

Meanwhile, Mr. McMurray, who is treasurer of the Building Preservation Trust Movement, was awarded his MBE for services to Built Heritage in Northern Ireland.

• Mr. Francis Brady, managing director of the La Mon Hotel and Country Club in Gransha, was awarded the MBE for services to tourism and hospitality in Northern Ireland in the New Year Honours.