New Year honours for east Antrim’s business and community leaders

John Charles Kenneth McDowell, director, Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd, receives an MBE for services to industry and to charity in Northern Ireland.

There’s an MBE too for Carrick’s Gordon Charles Penrose, honorary president, Institute of Roofing, for services to the roof slating and tiling industry.

Meanwhile, Denise Hunt (O’Neill) has been awarded a BEM for services to the hospitality sector and to the community in Carnlough.

As with the Queen’s Birthday Honours (read here), there is recognition of the contribution made by individuals during the pandemic.

Stephen Leslie Weir is made an MBE for services to the Royal British Legion and to the community in Co Antrim during Covid-19.

Honours are given to people from all walks of life and all sections of society who have made a difference to their community.

Tom Daniel Robinson has been awarded an MBE for voluntary service to education in Larne.

Among those recognised with a BEM are Donald John Blair, a volunteer with 1st Greenisland Company, Boys’ Brigade, for services to young people in Co Antrim and Daniel Martin Corr for services to martial arts and to community relations in Glengormley.

They take their place on the list alongside some of the province’s best known faces including concert pianist Barry Douglas OBE, who now receives a CBE for services to music and to community relations; Lord Rana MBE, chairman, Andras House Ltd, who is now made an OBE for services to business and to the economy and Rhys McClenaghan, who is awarded a BEM for services to gymnastics.

--

Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers. Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.