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Girlguiding and sea rescue volunteer honoured

Pamela TickellNorth East and Cumbria
News imageMargaret Lester / South Shields volunteer life brigade A composite image of Margaret Lester and Tom Fennelly. On the left, Lester is smiling while looking directly into the camera. She has short brown hair and is wearing a blue and white girl guiding uniform, with a blue pin on her collar. Fennelly, on the right, is also smiling at the camera. He has short white hair and is wearing a black suit with various medals and badges pinned to it.Margaret Lester / South Shields volunteer life brigade
Margaret Lester and Tom Fennelly were among those recognised in the King's birthday honours

Girlguiding and sea rescue volunteers are among those from the north-east of England celebrated in the King's Birthday Honours list.

Margaret Lester, 72, from Northumberland, said she was "completely flabbergasted" to hear she was appointed MBE. Girlguiding said the recognition for the long-serving volunteer was "richly deserved".

Tom Fennelly, 79, who is in his 50th year as honorary secretary of South Shields volunteer life brigade, was also appointed MBE in recognition of his services to search and rescue.

He said he was "deeply honoured" and thanked the partners and families of brigade members, saying they could not do it without them.

"Being called from home or work at all times of night and day and in all weathers to deal with a wide range of calls to help people in distress around the coast can be very challenging," Fennelly said.

He was operational for 50 years and stood down from answering emergency call-outs in 2020.

News imagePA Media Replica Locomotion No1 passes through Heighington, County Durham, on its first official journey in 200 years from the Locomotion Museum in Shildon to Darlington, as part of celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of British passenger rail services Crowds are watching and taking pictures with their phones.PA Media
Organisers behind the Stockton and Darlington Railway Bicentenary events were honoured

Project manager at Stockton and Darlington Railway Bicentenary (S&DR200) Richard Starrs received the British Empire Medal (BEM).

The group organised a nine month-long festival marking the opening of the historic railway.

And one of Durham Police's first ever police community support officers Adrian Richards also received the BEM for his services in Chester-le-Street.

He is known for organising and hosting the town's annual Activity Week, now in its 19th year, which provides thousands of children with free summer activities.

"When I came up with the idea it cost £350 for the first one," Richards said.

"Now it is about £35,000 and all of that is provided by donations and grants. It is months of work, but it is always completely worth it."

Also recognised were:

  • Chief executive of Beamish Museum Rhiannon Hiles - appointed CBE for services to museums and to the culture and heritage of North East England
  • Founder and Trustee at the If U Care Share Foundation Shirley Smith - appointed MBE for services to Suicide Prevention
  • Brenda Bland, from Hartlepool - appointed MBE for services to swimming in Great Britain
  • Chair of the North East Chamber of Commerce John Marshall - appointed OBE for services to the local economy

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