Downpatrick man given BEM for years of service

Downpatrick man given BEM for years of service

4 January 2017

DOWNPATRICK man Gabriel Trueman said his British Empire Medal is a recognition of the hard work of people he has been closely associated with during his time working with sporting and community organisations in the area.

The award is a reflection of his voluntary service to disadvantaged children and young people over many years.

Sixty two year-old Mr Trueman is chairman of the East Down Rural Youth Work Project’s youth advisory committee. He was a member of the Down GAA County Board’s management team when Down won the All-Ireland senior football championship in 1991.

He has worked alongside others to help with the social and economic regeneration of the Model Farm and Flying Horse areas in Downpatrick and played a key role in the development of the Ballymote shopping centre and the nearby health and well-being centre which opened in 2011.

When confirmation of his BEM officially came through last weekend, the modest Downpatrick man admitted he was “over the moon.”

He also revealed that an uncle who lives in England saw the New Year Honours list published in the London Gazette last Saturday and contacted his brother, Paddy, to inform him of the news.

“My brother laughed as he thought my uncle was winding him up, but he wasn’t,” Gabriel said. “My brother then went on the internet and saw my name amongst the lost of recipients. Soon after, I started getting texts from people congratulating me and extending good wishes.”

A former chairman of the Flying Horse Ward Community Forum which was launched in 1996, Mr Trueman has played a key role with Downpatrick Neighbourhood Renewal which was established to improve the quality of life for people in the deprived neighbourhoods. He also helped secure funding for new playgrounds at a number of public sector housing estates.

More recently, Mr Trueman has been working with Downpatrick Football Club on its exciting plans to build a new 3G pitch adjacent to the town’s racecourse where construction work is expected to start this year.

“I am delighted to share this award with the many people I have worked with over many years with a number of organisations,” he said. “This honour is as much for them as it is for me. A lot of my work has been based in the community where there are a great many people working tirelessly to help others.

“My award is for the local community, one that I have been proud to work for. If it was not for the community and people who work hard, this award would not have come my way.

“I gladly accept the BEM on local people’s behalf as it is has been my privilege to work for them and alongside them over many years.”

Mr Trueman said he has received tremendous help and support from many and wants to publicly acknowledge their collective efforts in improving the lot of others.

He added: “It is pleasing to see the efforts of so many people in the transformation of the Model Farm and Flying Horse areas in particular, but the work must continue and it will. The fact this part of Downpatrick is now high on the agenda of many statutory agencies is testament to the work of many and I have been more than happy to play my part.”