MBE for Andrew (From Messenger Newspapers)

MBE for Hale Barns resident Andrew

8:00am Tuesday 1st January 2013 in News

ANDREW Turner has been awarded the MBE for political service to the Conservative Party and service to the community in Hale Barns.

A former county-level hockey player who still plays tennis, 79-year-old Andrew believes retired people should help others.

“I wanted to do more than play sport in my retirement,” he said.

After retiring as a marketing manager 15 years ago, he joined the Conservative Party as secretary of Hale Barns ward.

He became chairman of the Altrincham and Sale West constituency in 1999 then its president, and, for three years, has been deputy chairman of the Greater Manchester group.

Politics led to his appointment as a governor of Elmridge Primary School in 1997.

He and three other governors set up a trust, donations to which enable pupils to pursue extra curricular activities as well as purely academic subjects.

Another scheme he helped introduce was the teaching of secondary school work after the children at Elmridge had sat grammar school entrance examinations.

“I do like to see children develop,” he said.

Mr Turner, of Castleway, also serves on the local scout committee Politically, he has lobbied about the development of the Square, fought against noisy activities in Halecroft Park and tried to prevent roads linking the proposed Manchester Airport logistics hub from affecting parts of All Saints parish where he worships.

All Saints has appointed him to high-level committees where he encourages both his own and other churches to give practical help to the elderly.

“I and my wife, Sally are looking forward to visiting the Palace,” he said.