Birthday honours for local people

TWO charity workers and a businessman from the north west are among the people to be honoured in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours, published on Saturday.

Edyth Lovell, wife of the late Canon Lovell, is one of two people in the district to receive an MBE. She received her 'Gong' for service to the community.

The organist for for Dunnalong Parish Church, Mrs Lovell said she was "very excited" about her accolade.

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"It is only just beginning to register with me. I have received quite a number of letters and cards and flowers which makes me realise that quite a lot of people are very happy about it, but it was not something that ever occurred to me that I would ever receive. I can hardly believe it," she said.

Mrs Lovell has been an integral part of raising money and awareness for Leukaemia Research, working in a voluntary capacity for the Talking Newspaper and Victim Support and is a familiar face to many as one of a dedicated band of Poppy sellers in the district.

"In 50 years one can get involved in a lot of things. Once you have helped in anything you end up being roped into all kinds of charitable things. I am also involved in the Women's World Day of Prayer. It goes round all the churches in Strabane. I am delighted. It will be strange to get used to. I feel, too, that the people who are so happy for me are also the people who have helped .

"This is a great honour. My daughter in London is thrilled and my family are all terribly pleased, as are the people in the parish," she said.

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Congratulating Mrs Lovell on her award, Kay Nesbitt, Parish Reader at Dunnalong, said: "On behalf of the Rector, Select Vestry and parishoners of the parishes of Leckpatrick and Dunnalong, we are all delighted and so proud of our organist Edyth. This accolade is well deserved Edyth is an inspiration to all. She has worked tirelessly for all her charities, especially for Leukaemia Research NI."

Proud daughter Diane Leeson, the eldest of his five daughters, said she, her sisters and mother were all "absolutely delighted" that Hill Robinson had received an MBE, which he received for voluntary service to Cancer Research UK.

"We feel it is richly deserved. We are really proud of him and of all the work he has done for such an excellent charity. He had been a hardware merchant in Strabane for three years when, in 1959, Dr John Andrews the local medical officer for the Council who was the local chairman of Cancer Research came to Dad and asked him to take on the chairmanship of Cancer Research as he was leaving the area. He agreed and continued as chairman for over 40 years and is now President of the local group," said Diane.

Asked what the reaction to Hill's 'Gong' had been like, Diane said: "He has been indundated with messages of congratulation from all his family, friends and acquaintances."

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"For as long as I can remember my father has been involved with the Cancer Research Campaign. There were always dozens of collecting tins sitting at home around the time of the annual street collection each autumn waiting to be delivered to the various people Dad had cultivated over the years as collectors. Dad is someone who, when he takes on a job will always do it well and to the very best of his ability and he has shown great determination and loyalty in establishing Cancer Research as a charity in his own locality," she said.

"He will be 90 on October 24 this year and is still involved with the organisation. On receiving this award he commented that he was 'absolutely delighted but very suprised' and that he had 'never even thought of or expected that he would receive such an honour'. Dad is really looking forward to the trip to Buckingham Palace to receive the award."

Diane added that he received an award from Cancer Research UK last year for 50 years of service and did not ever expect any other recognition.

Meanwhile, the founder and chief executive of Londonderry-based firm Singularity was awarded an OBE for services to business in Northern Ireland.

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Padraig Canavan established and operates the international company from the City, which also has operations in London, New York, Singapore, Hyderabad and Belfast.

Singularity was established in 1994 and is a world leader in business process management software. Under Padraig's leadership, Singularity has an annualised average growth rate of 30 per cent and now employs 250 people worldwide.

He is also the chairman of the University 4 Derry group, which is calling for the substantial expansion of the Magee campus. He is also vice-president of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce.

He said: "I am most appreciative of this award as it is the whole company that is being honoured. Singularity's stunning growth is only possible because our workforce is first class and committed, above all, to customer service. We have also benefited immensely from the support of Invest NI, which has played an important role in our establishment and growth. I can also say with confidence that I would have achieved little without the tireless support of my wife and family."

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Dermot McCauley, Director of Corporate Development at Singularity, said: "This is wonderful news. Padraig is an inspirational leader who has created, led and developed Singularity into a world force in the IT industry. In doing so, he has also built Singularity into one of the largest and most significant employers in Northern Ireland. The OBE recognises the importance of Padraig's role in putting Singularity, Derry and Northern Ireland in the forefront of the business process management software sector. Hundreds of jobs and very substantial export earnings for Northern Ireland have been the result of Padraig's vision, dynamism and determination. It is an award that is very well deserved."