New Year gongs for county volunteers

The county's roll of honour includes retired teacher Heather Williamson, a longstanding governor at The Chase High School, Malvern, who has been made an MBE for her services to the town.

Others to receive recognition are Wychavon district councillor Malcolm Meikle, who has been a councillor for 48 years.

He becomes an MBE in recognition of his services to local government.

And Ernest Nock of Droitwich has been made an OBE for his services to Victim Support - a charity which helps victims of crime.

Among the national honours are actor and comedian Hugh Laurie, who has become a big name in the States, who receives an OBE.

Boxer Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton, world welterweight champion, receives an MBE and actress Penelope Keith, famours for roles in The Good Life and To the Manor Born, receives a CBE.

HEATHER WILLIAMSON accepted her honour on behalf of all hardworking volunteers.

The 62-year-old, of Churchdown Road, Mavern, said: "I am naturally delighted, but feel there are very many others with whom I have worked, who are every bit as deserving or more so, so in accepting this honour.

"I feel I'm doing it on behalf of the largely unsung voluntary sector which plays such a vital role in supporting community in Britain today."

She has been made an MBE for services to the community of Malvern.

A teacher by profession Mrs Williamson has devoted boundless time and energy to voluntary work, mainly in the area of Education. During her 18 years as a governor of The Chase High School, 15 of those years as chairman of governors, she has worked hard to safeguard the school's ethos to ensure every student is valued, enthused and encouraged.

In 2003 she helped to organise a thanksgiving service at the Malvern Priory to celebrate the school's 50th anniversary.

She has also been involved with the town's first Home Start Scheme. When it was first set up she was chair of the Steering Committee and then the first chair of the scheme.

"Home-Start offers such invaluable support to families who are going through a difficult time. "This may be through post-natal depression, financial or health problems, family breakdown, pressures of single-parenting, or simply lack of preparation for parenthood."

She is currently a trustee on the charity's management committee, but her voluntary work does not stop there.

Also a lay reader at St Andrew's Church and a governor at Malvern Hills Primary School, a school which has had to fight hard to stay open.

Mrs Williamson's husband David is a retired engineer and civil servant. Their son Mark works for the Carbon Trust and their daughter Clare teaches scuba diving in Queensland, Australia.

Meanwhile a retired executive from Droitwich who has been involved at the top and the bottom of a national voluntary organisation for over 10 years is to receive an OBE in the New Year Honours.

ERNEST NOCK, aged 68, is being recognised for his services to Victim Support and to the community in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Mr Nock, of Lyttleton Road, Droitwich, had worked in industry and for the NHS before setting up his own consultancy in 1993.

It was then he decided he wanted to do some charitable work. "I started my own consultancy and I thought I would give something back and that is when I started the charitable work."

Much of this relates to the justice system and he became a founding volunteer with the Worcester Crown Court Witness Service, where he is still a volunteer.

"I became the first chairman of Victim Support Herefordshire and Worcestershire and I am chairman of the National Council of Victim Support. I am also a main board trustee of Victim Support and the vice chairman of Victim Support Limited," said Mr Nock.

"I am at the top and the bottom of Victim Support. It means that, when I am talking at the national board meetings, I know what is going on from my own experiences."

"My voluntary work gives me a great amount of satisfaction. Doing it allows me to use my professional skills and experience."

He is also a lay member of the Lord Lieutenant's advisory committee on magistrates, which conducts the initial selection process for magistrates.

Mr Nock's services to the community include his voluntary work with the Lucy Faithfull (Correct) Foundation - a child protection charity based in Alvechurch, near Redditch - where he is the vice chairman. He has also been a trustee for over 10 years.

He is also the chairman of EIL (Experiment In International Living), which aims to increase understanding of other cultures by exchange visits.

Mr Nock was surprised and pleased to receive the OBE.

"I was surprised and I had a sense of genuine personal pride. I was pleased and gratified."

He added that he felt his voluntary work was very worthwhile, but the honour was extra confirmation.

Wychavon Dictrict Councillor MALCOLM MEIKLE has been made an MBE in recognition for his 50 year's of service to local government His career in politics began in 1958 when he stood for Worcestershire County Council as a Conservative candidate and won the seat in the Pershore ward.

Now, 48 years on, the Wychavon district councillor says he is delighted to receive the honour which he described as a salutory experience'.

Mr Meikle, who lives on the family farm at Wick, near Pershore, was just 29 when first elected to Worcestershire County Council, and was the youngest councillor by far.

His first role was chair of the youth committee, before being appointed chairman of the County Education Committee at the age of 43 - when he was still the youngest on the county council.

He lost his seat when the councils of Herefordshire and Worcestershire amalgamated, but by the mid 70s was back on the newly created Wychavon District Council. He was made leader in 1999 - a role which he held until 2003.

He now sits on the council's health scrutiny committee.

Mr Meikle said the most memorable times have been the establishment of middle schools and high schools in Wychavon, along with the creation of Malvern Hills Outdoor Education Centre which is now under threat of closure.

"Literally what stands out is the amount of government interference the creation of so many quangos," the 77-year-old added.

"The most enjoyable aspects have been in a sense, being able to put into effect one's own ideas.

"I do think we've managed to put Wychavon on the map and achieved more than a lot of councils.

"What I have particularly enjoyed is working with people."

Also on the list were: JOHN BAILEY, chairman of the Worcester Diocesan Advisory Committee for the care of churches, who was made an MBE for services to the Church of England in the city.

DIANA SHINDLER, from West Malvern - a legal adviser for the Department for Transport - received an OBE.

THELMA ALLEN, JP, an employer compliance officer for HM Revenue and Customs, will receive the MBE. The Evesham resident is a familiar face at Worcester Magistrates Court, where she sits as a magistrate.