New Year honours for local people

Patsy O’Kane from the Beech Hill Country House Hotel received her MBE for her service to tourism and hospitality. Her family has owned the Beech Hill Country House Hotel since 1989 and she has undertaken a transformation of the Georgian home into a 30 bedroom destination of choice for leisure and corporate visitors.

Some of the world’s most powerful people, including Bill Clinton and wife and former US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, John Kerry and actor Will Ferrell, have stayed there.

Speaking about her MBE, she said: “I am truly honoured to be recognised on the New Year’s Honour’s list. This prestigious accolade is testament to my family’s hard work and dedication over the past 24 years to transform the Beech Hill into a luxurious four star hotel.

“The journey has been long and at times a struggle, but with the commitment of our staff we have managed to deliver one of Northern Ireland’s most attractive and best known places to stay.”

Planning chief Mary McIntyre received an OBE for services to planning and voluntary service to Strabane District Caring.

It was with great delight that her family and friends learned that Joan Doherty, from Dunhugh Park, and a champion of volunteering, had received an MBE.

Joan has been highly involved in Carlisle Road Methodist Church, is a highly valued member and chairman of the North West Methodist Mission, and for 12 years has served as a member of the Independent Monitoring Board for HMP Magilligan and also sat as chairman of the Board, as well as serving as chairman of the Association of Independent Monitoring Boards for Northern Ireland. A Governor of North West Regional College, she was a Governor of the former North West Institute before that, and was a Director in the Churches Trust, from which she recently retired. Joan is also a non-executive director for Altnagelvin Hospital and the Western Health and Social Care Trust, and is treasurer of the City Friends of Marie Curie and was formerly deeply involved with the Save the Children Fund.

Earlier this year she was also deeply involved in the production and distribution of ‘Luke’s Gospel’ in the City and Londonderry District.

Asked how she felt about her MBE, she said: “I was shocked and delighted that somebody thought it was worth their while to nominate me and I am delighted.”

Cathy Glass, from Ballymoney, also received an MBE for her services to healthcare.

The trauma and orthopaedic manager at Altnagevlin Hospital, Mrs Glass qualified in the City Hospital in Belfast in 1988 and worked in Belfast before making the move to Altnagelvin, where she has worked for the past 18 years. She worked as a Ward Sister before going on to take up the mantle of Trauma and Orthopaedic Manager.

Asked what prompted her to take up nursing as a career, she said: “I always wanted to be a nurse from I was extremely young. I suppose the leadership and management was in me and I have been encouraged greatly to progress while in Altnagelvin.

“I must highlight that I work with a fantastic team of nurses, medical staff, management and support staff,” she said, adding: “To be honoured for doing a job you enjoy is a bit extraordinary. I really do enjoy doing the job and I always try to make life better for the patients. It is an extremely rewarding job.”

MBEs were also bestowed on John McAdam Niven, from Bready, formerly a chief engineer with the Home Office’s Border Force. The award was in recognition of his services to the protection of the UK Border and to the community.

Also receiving an MBE is Joan Elaine Walters Cuthbert, principal of Culmore Primary School, for services to education.

An MBE was also bestowed on Diane Rathfield, the general manager of Roe Valley Education Forum and Women’s Network in recognition of her services to the community, and Drumahoe veterinary surgeon, Eddie Campbell (see page 1).