Pharmacist honoured for cancer charity work

Leslie McAdoo is chairman of the Ballyclare committee of Macmillan Cancer Support group and was named in the New Year Honours list in recognition of his contribution to charitable services in Northern Ireland.

The 81-year-old was part of the committee for fundraising which met for the first time back in January 1959 in Ballyclare High School.

At that time there were 35 local people involved in the group – of which Mr McAdoo is the sole surviving member. Numbers may have dwindled, but the people involved, under Leslie’s leadership, remain committed to the cause.

“I have been fundraising for cancer charities since 1959,” he said. “In those days nobody talked about cancer. But 35 people attended a committee meeting in January 1959 and we all stuck together. Now, I’m the only one of the 35 left but I’m maybe more involved than I used to be since I retired.”

He commented: “We have a small committee which has supported me wholeheartedly. We organise street collections, we do hampers at Christmas, the fundraising never stops. We have been very well supported by Ballyeaston and Ballynure Vintage tractor clubs and well as the Ballyclare Male Choir.”

Mr McAdoo, who is a senior elder at Ballylinney Presbyterian Church outside Ballyclare, ran a pharmacy in Ballynure from 1952 to 1975 and worked in Larne Health Centre for 19 years. This month he marks 60 years as a member of the Ballyclare Male Choir of which he is currently president.

Asked who he thought may have nominated him for the MBE he replied: “I can think of a couple of people who may have nominated me but I’m not 100 per cent sure.

“I got a letter in the middle of November telling me that I had been nominated. My wife and I knew but we didn’t tell our family until New Year’s Eve. They were over the moon when we told them the news. They were very, very proud and excited.”

He added: “I don’t have any indication when I might be going to the palace but it is something I’m definitely looking forward to. It will be nice to go to Buckingham Palace.”