Published on Saturday 31 December 2011 17:38
Two academics and a departmental secretary at Lancaster University have been named in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.
An OBE for services to education went to Professor Rachel Cooper. director of the newly established Lancaster Institute of Contemporary Arts and Professor of Design Management at the university.
MBEs went to Ian Eric Miller for services to ultralow temperature physics and to June Coulson, departmental secretary at the university’s Department of Psychology.
Other people honoured in Lancashire include an MBE for lollipop lady Irene Reid from Longridge, who has guided her own children, grandchildren and “everyoneS else’s children” across the road for 43 years.
Mrs Reid is a familiar face outside Longridge CE Primary School, Berry Lane, and has been hailed for services to road safety.
She said: “I’m very honoured, obviously, excited, gob smacked.
“It’s been a nightmare keeping it a secret. The letter was so official, strictest confidence.”
Meanwhile, police sergeant John Rigby, 49, who lives in Walton-le-Dale, has been honoured for services to the police.
The married father-of-two, who has served with Lancashire police for 20 years and the Metropolitan Police for 10 years, said: “I thought, it must be one of those spoof letters.
“It was only when I read it and read it and read it again that I realised it sounded pretty official.”
Margaret Vinten, who founded Derian House Children’s Hospice, Chapel Street, Chorley, nearly 20 years ago was awarded an MBE for voluntary service.
She was the charity’s chairman of the board of trustees until she stepped down earlier this to hand the role to vice chairman and managing director of Moving Works, Georgina Cox.
Mrs Cox said: “We are delighted that the incredible contribution she has made over the past 20 years has been recognised in this way.”
Dawn Stoddard, 47, who lives in Adlington, was honoured for services to further education after being named Learndirect Outstanding Learner of the Year 2010.
She said: “These sorts of things don’t happen to people like me. I’m thrilled to bits but I’m in shock at the moment.”
Grandmother-of-five Mary Kendall, 73, has been honoured for services to the community in Ingleton.
Mrs Kendall, who helps run meals on wheels in the village, said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked. The whole aim of life, as far as the village is concerned, is to try and enhance the quality of life for people.
“I’ve been on the outdoor swimming pool committee for 45 years. I love this village and the people.”
Others to receive MBEs are Dr Ian Geoffrey Smith, founder and global medical director at Synexus, Chorley, for services to health research; Keti Vatcha, administrative assistant at HM Revenue and Customs in Preston; Peter Kellett, a Lancashire Police special inspector; Hazel Sewell, a counsellor at Cedar House, Mount Street, Preston, for voluntary service to mental healthcare; Joanne Elizabeth Johnson for services to bereavement counselling and training in Lancashire; Donald Fletcher for services to the voluntary sector in Preston, and David Orrell, senior executive officer at the Pension, Disability and Carers Service, Department for Work and Pensions in Preston. A CBE was given to Richard Jones, director of adult social care at Lancashire County Council, and Barbara Evelyn Challinger, from Preston, headteacher at Haslingden High School has an OBE.
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