Ballyclare Secondary School Principal delighted with OBE

Mr McCrea (pictured), who has been headmaster at the Doagh Road school for 25 years, said he was delighted to have been named in the New Year Honours list.

“I’m totally delighted and very surprised about the award. It really is a great honour and I’m very, very pleased - not only for myself, but for the school and the whole community in Ballyclare,” he told the Times.

Born in Belfast, Uel McCrea moved to Portadown with his family when he was eight years old. Educated at Edenderry Primary School and Portadown Technical College, he went on to complete degree courses at Stranmillis College and the Open University, and later earned a Masters qualification in mathematics at Queen’s University.

Mr McCrea began his career as a maths teacher at Dunmurry High School and Laurelhill in Lisburn, before taking the post of Vice-Principal at Ballyclare Secondary School in 1981.

Four years later he became Principal - a job he has thoroughly enjoyed over the past two and a half decades.

“It’s a great school and I’ve really enjoyed being headmaster for the past twenty-odd years. It’s been a real privilege,” he said.

The 60-year-old, who lives in Ballyeaston and is an elder in First Ballyeaston Presbyterian Church, is still trying to find out who nominated him for the OBE.

“There are three or four names floating about, and I hope in due course to do a bit of investigating and find out who was behind it and give them a word of thanks as it’s a real honour.”

Mr McCrea, who also serves as Chairman of the NEELB’s Education Committee and Chair of the Association of Head Teachers in Secondary Schools, is looking forward to receiving his OBE honour sometime later this year.