Honours from the Queen for Ballymena people

President of Ballymena United Norman McBurney was awarded an OBE for his service to the community through Ballymena United Football Club, as well as his service to the haulage industry.

Mr McBurney has been involved with the Showgrounds club as a sponsor for around 25 years and occupied the position of chairman, before being appointed president.

Andrew Millar received an MBE for services to the Scout Movement and to the community in Northern Ireland. He is Group Scout Leader with 1st Cullybackey Scout Group with which he has been involved for almost 70 years.

Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum’s Ivy Ridge, received an MBE for services to Minority Ethnic Communities in Northern Ireland. Ivy is the Ethnic Minorities Project Manager of the Forum which provides support to 18 Minority-Ethnic Communities in the greater Ballymena area.

An MBE was also awarded to Dr Fiona Jane Stewart from Ballymena for services to Genetics in Northern Ireland. A Consultant in Medical Genetics Queen’s University Belfast, Dr Stewart specialises in Clinical genetics with special interests and specialist areas in Dysmorphology and Ethics.

Former principal of St Louis Grammar School, Frank Cassidy, received a BEM for services to Community Cohesion through Ballymena Learning Together.

And a BEM was also awarded to Mrs Anna May Wharry, Ballymena, for services to the community in Carnlough.