Queen's Birthday Honours bestowed on local people
Youngest recipient 'honoured' to receive an award
LISBURN
woman Diana Farrelly is the youngest recipient in Northern Ireland to
receive an award in the Queens Birthday Honours list this year.
Diana, a Lifelong Learning Manager at Armagh Campus of Southern Regional College is just 38 and said she was 'very honoured' to get an MBE for services to Further Education.
Diana knew three weeks ago about the award and while bursting to tell her nearest and dearest, the mother of two from Lombard Park had to keep it a secret from daughters Beth (14) and Anna (10).
It was only at the weekend when she started receiving calls from the press, she was able to break the news to her family.
This will be the fourth time Diana's work has been recognised. In January 2005 she received a Local Heroes Award from the Home Secretary, in 2006 her department received a Beacon Award and in 2007 the Lifelong Department was awarded the Queens Anniversary for Higher and Further Education.
"It sounds a little clichéd but it really is quite an honour to be recognised," said Diana. "My two girls were just thrilled when I broke the news to them."
Diana, a former pupil of Fort Hill High School and Methodist College Belfast graduated from Queen's University in 1993 with BA Honours Degree in English
For the past 14 years she has been working in the public sector and has taken a leading role in the development, implementation and management of Lifelong Learning, Community Relations and Cultural Diversity Programmes.
Until a recent move to the Lurgan Campus, for the previous eight years Diana was the Manager of the Lifelong Learning Department at the Southern Regional College.
It will be the second time Diana has been to Buckingham Palace. In 2007 when the Lifelong Learning Department was awarded The Queens' Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education she and her team travelled to London to meet the Queen and pick up the award.
CVO honour for Director of Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Northern Ireland
MR
Eric Rainey of Belmont Road Lisburn has been made a Commander of the
Royal Victorian Order (CVO).
Eric is the Director of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Northern Ireland and has completed nearly 30 years of service with the scheme
This honour is separate from the general list as it is chosen by the Queen herself.
Eric received a personal letter of thanks from The Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip for his "unflagging dedication and kindly leadership which has helped untold numbers of participants to gain their awards.
He said Eric will retire in July with "gratitude and regret of all".
Rodney earns OBE for service to Medicine throughout Europe.
LISBURN
man Rodney Peyton has been recognised with an OBE in this year's Queen's
Birthday Honours List for services to Medicine in Northern Ireland.
The former Hilden Primary (1953-1959) and Wallace High School (1959-1966) pupil said he was delighted to have been honoured for his work.
Rodney, who lives in Dungannon, graduated in Medicine from Queen's University, Belfast in 1973. He gained his Fellowship in Surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh and was the General Surgeon for many years in South Tyrone Hospital, Dungannon and more recently in Craigavon Area Hospital.
Rodney has always been passionate about surgical education and he graduated in Medical Education in 1994 from Cardiff University and in Law from the College of Law in 1999.
His main interest has been in surgical education, training doctors worldwide. He was responsible for the initial UK training courses in keyhole surgery which were run at South Tyrone Hospital, Dungannon in the early 90's.
He was one of the instigators of the UK Advanced Trauma. Life Support System and for more than 20 years he has been involved with the Education Department at the Royal College of Surgeons in London and is the International Tutor facilitating Post Graduate Surgical Education in many countries
Since leaving the Health Service in June 2007-he has been contracted by the European Surgical Institute to assist with improving the quality of Surgical Education across Europe. He has the unique distinction of holding Fellowships of all four Royal Colleges in Surgeons in the British Isles and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London.
Ulster Star
19/06/2009
