Local folk on New Year’s Honours List

Mr. Thomas Millar and Mrs Geraldine Price Linford were awarded the MBE (Members of the Order of the British Empire).

Pipe band stalwart and well known broadcaster, Tommy Millar received the MBE ‘for services to pipe band music in Northern Ireland’.

The Ballymena man has been involved in pipe bands since joining his first band as a teenager in 1947.

Now 80, he said his love affair with the music is as strong as ever, and he continues to host regular pipe band shows on BBC Radio Ulster.

He said: “It’s a great honour. I’ve been in the business a long time and I’m delighted. It was a complete surprise.”

As well as performing in and organising events, Tommy has also written at length on his passion, both for local papers and regional titles, and has had regular pipe band columns over the years, helping to promote his passion.

Throughout his working life he balanced working in newspaper production with his pipe band commitments.

He said interest in pipe band music has grown steadily over the years around the globe and pointed out that nowadays the world championship pulls in crowds of over 40,000.

“It’s very rewarding and you get to meet a lot of good people. It’s just good clean fun.”

Geraldine Linford MBE was recognised for voluntary service to young people in Northern Ireland through the Girl Guides and Millenium Volunteer Programme.

Lifelong links to the Armed Forces mean Geraldine Linford has moved home imnumerable times.

Yet for the past 43 years there has been one constant in her life - the Girl Guides.

Geraldine, from Broughshane, has been bestowed with an MBE for dedicating her life to the organisation.

The 62-year-old first became involved with the Girl Guides at the age of 17 and joined the RAF a short time later. Following her marriage to James in 1977 she left the RAF and dedicated herself to guiding.

The couple - who were also foster parents - moved to County Antrim where she set up a guide company in Kells. She also served the organisation in Germany, Cyprus and England.

She is currently the young leader and Rainbow leader at St Patrick’s Church in Broughshane as well as being training co-ordinator and international adviser for North Antrim County and a leader mentor.

She said of the Girl Guides: “I like the challenge of delivering the programme to young people and watching them grow and become mature adults.

“Guiding is a very worthwhile organisation. We cannot afford to lose it or its ethos. When I put my guidewear on I become 18 again. It keeps me young even if the body is wearing out.”

Geraldine also works part-time as a volunteer co-ordinator for the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and is a member of several volunteer and youth bodies.