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106-year-old WW2 veteran among those on King's Honours list

Mark Simpson
BBC News NI community correspondent
PA Media Norman Irwin is bald with some grey hair on the side of him. He is wearing a brown patterned zip-up fleece with a white shirt beneath it. He is wearing metal glasses and is smiling at the camera as he sits down with a wooden wall and striped cushion behind him.PA Media
Norman Irwin has been awarded a British Empire Medal

A 106-year-old Second World War veteran from Coleraine is the oldest person on the King's Birthday Honours list.

Norman Irwin has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for a range of voluntary work in his home town in County Londonderry, including at a cross-community club for retirees.

A total of 69 people from Northern Ireland are honoured on the list which celebrates the public service of individuals across the UK.

Road-racer Michael Dunlop, 36, has been made an MBE for services to the sport.

Pacemaker Michael Dunlop has short dark hair, he has his thumbs up and is smiling at the camera. He is wearing his black racing leathers with sponsors on it in white.Pacemaker
Road-racer Michael Dunlop is to be made an MBE for services to the sport

The record-breaking Isle of Man TT winner said: "This is a wonderful honour for me and for my family. I am humbled to be awarded this honour from the Palace."

Among the others from Northern Ireland to be recognised are the former permanent secretary at the Department of Health, Peter May, and the chairwoman of the recent Urology Inquiry, Christine Smith KC, who are appointed CBE.

PA Media Ms Smith has shoulder length brown hair with a fringe and is smiling at the camera as she wears a cream coloured blazer with a black top. The background behind her is black.PA Media
Chairwoman of the Urology Services Inquiry Christine Smith has been made a CBE

The founder of the Belfast Community Gospel Choir, Dr Marie Lacey, has been made an MBE for her work in the arts sector.

The choir brings together people of different faiths, races, sexual orientations and socio-economic backgrounds.

Belfast Community Gospel Choir Dr Lacey has short brown hair and is smiling at the camera. She is wearing makeup and has a blue top on with a blue beaded necklace around her neck. She is sitting on a black chair with a red wall and window with blinds behind her.Belfast Community Gospel Choir
The founder of the Belfast Community Gospel Choir, Dr Marie Lacey, has been made an MBE

Dr Lacey said: "I can not put into words what this honour means to me.

"To think back to that little girl on the Newtownards Road in Belfast to now receiving this recognition is beyond what I could have dreamed for myself."

"Seeing joy on our audiences' faces has always been my privilege, and so to be recognised and honoured for that is pretty overwhelming."

'Huge deal'

Joanne Currie has short blonde hair with a fringe. She is wearing a black blazer, blue top and has a green lanyard around her neck. Behind her is a noticeboard in a classroom which is purple with a red border.
Joanne Currie, principal of Cairnshill Integrated Primary School, was made an MBE

Also made an MBE was Joanne Currie, principal of Cairnshill Integrated Primary School in south Belfast.

"It means a huge deal to me," she told BBC News NI.

"I am just an 'ordinary Joe', just working on a daily basis. To get something like this is, is an honour and it's very humbling."

PA Media James McGinn has short grey hair and is wearing black square glasses. He has a black suit on and is wearing a white shirt with a black tie with white spots.PA Media
James McGinn, managing director of Hastings Hotels, has been awarded an MBE

Among those in the business community who received honours was Jo Bamford, the owner of Wrightbus, who was made a CBE for services to innovating the clean hydrogen economy.

Vicky Davies, the chief executive of Danske Bank, was made an OBE.

"I feel privileged to receive this honour, and I very much see it as a reflection of the everyday dedication and hard work my colleagues put in to serving the banking needs of local people and businesses," she said.

James McGinn, managing director of Hastings Hotels, has been made an MBE for services to hospitality and tourism.

Richard Taylor, a governor in the Northern Ireland Prison Service, has been made an OBE, as has Terry Pateman, the chairman of the Northern Amateur Football league.

Seven birthday honours were awarded to of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, including Insp Richard Brown who has more than 40 years of service.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: "I am incredibly proud to see the dedication and bravery of our officers and staff recognised.

"These honours reflect not only individual accomplishments, but also the dedication and professionalism that define the PSNI."

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons paid tribute to those from the sport, music, arts, charity, housing and voluntary and community sectors who were recognised.

"Each recipient has made a positive and lasting impact on our society and are an inspiration, I would like to thank each of you."

Click here for a full list of those named in the Kings Birthday Honours list.

What are the awarded ranks?

The commonly awarded ranks are as follows:

Companion of Honour - Limited to 65 people. Recipients wear the initials CH after their name

Knight or Dame

CBE - Commander of the Order of the British Empire

OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire

MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire

BEM - British Empire Medal

READ: Guide to the King's Birthday Honours

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