Trafford does the honours (From Messenger Newspapers)

Queen's New Year's Honours List - Trafford does the honours

9:00am Friday 4th January 2013 in News

AN Alzheimer’s sufferer has described her appointment as an MBE as ‘the cherry on top of an incredible year.’

Dr Ann Johnson MBE, who is 57 and lives at Sunrise Senior Living in Hale Barns, has had her tireless work for the charity Alzheimer’s Society recognised and honoured with the award.

Former nurse Ann was diagnosed with the degenerative disease at the age of 52 and has since contributed to many important events including chairing sessions at the Dementia Congress 2011 and taking part in the Alzheimer’s Disease International conference in London 2012.

Ann also sits on the Prime Minister’s Champion Group for Dementia Friendly Communities and in July this year was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bolton for her outstanding contribution to healthcare.

Ann said: “It is so exciting to be given this recognition. It is the cherry on top of an incredible year in which I have had the opportunity to work with the Prime Minister, speak at some major events and also receive my doctorate.

“This year we have seen so much progress for people with dementia. I feel very lucky to be able to be part of all the work that is going on and am really glad that I am helping to make a difference.”

 

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.

 

A FORMER Olympian and head coach of Bowdon Hightown Hockey Club was recognised in the New Year’s Honours List for her services to sport. Christina Cullen MBE, known as Tina, has more than 200 England and Great Britain caps to her name, alongside more than 100 international goals.

Tina has also appeared in two Olympic Games, first in Atlanta in 1996 finishing in fourth place and then in the 2000 Sydney games. She was also one of a few original players still competing in the National Premier League, which had its first season back in 1989 and has scored more than 350 goals in that time.

Tina, who manages her full time job as head of PE at Greenbank High School for Girls in Liverpool, also finds the times to play in the Investec Women’s National Premier League. Dieter Hill, manager of Great Britain U21 Men and Bowdon Hightown, says that Tina is very well revered within the world of hockey and has even managed to coach some juniors to international level.

“It never ceases to amaze me how much enthusiasm Tins brings to every training session and match. She managed the same in her PE lessons too. “Her ethos is to help people improve whether they are playing for the first time or a senior international athlete,” he added.