LOCAL residents have been honoured in The King’s Birthday Honours list, along with three walking dads who helped raise £1.4m for a Warrington-based suicide prevention charity in memory of their daughters.
The local residents were named alongside famous faces including leading artist Tracey Emin, pop icon Simon Le Bon, Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden, singer Heather Small and actor Alex Jennings, with the highest award, Companion of Honour, being given to former prime minister Gordon Brown for services to public and charitable services both in the UK and abroad.
Post Office victims campaigner Alan Bates was also honoured with a knighthood for his services to justice.
Meanwhile, locally, Martin Sim, deputy further education commissioner, was awarded a CBE for services to further education.
Jayne Acton a social worker for Wigan Council has received a MBE for services to children and families.
An MBE has been awarded to Maria Sarkar, co-founder and vice president of Thelwall company DriveWorks for services to manufacturing.
Ann Doyle, a technical specialist for the Environment Agency has received a BEM for services to water regulation and to the community in Warrington.
Valerie Woodward has received a BEM for services to the community in Burtonwood.
Meanwhile, the 3 Dads Walking say they are humbled to be honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours List for their fundraising work for Warrington-based charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide in memory of their daughters, Beth, Emily and Sophie.
In a joint statement, they said: “The money raised has supported PAPYRUS’ expansion plans to open more hubs in communities across the UK and extend the operating hours of its emergency helpline, HOPELINE247, where people can talk to suicide prevention professionals at any time of any day.
“Their work saves lives but we, as a nation, can do more. We can save more lives by educating our young people around the risk they face. Suicide remains the biggest killer of under 35s in the UK, so let’s give them the suicide prevention skills to keep themselves and others safe.”
Andy Airey is from Cumbria, Mike Palmer lives in Sale in Greater Manchester and Tim Owen is from Norfolk.
Ged Flynn, chief executive of PAPYRUS, which has its head office in Warrington, said: “We are delighted that the 3 Dads Walking have been honoured by their country for the remarkable impact they have had and the young lives they have undeniably helped to save.
“Brought together by the tragedy and trauma of suicide – which shattered their lives and the lives of those around them – Andy, Mike and Tim set out to achieve something positive following the loss of their daughters Sophie, Beth and Emily.
“In so doing they created something extraordinary, which captured the nation’s hearts.
“Their three walks across the UK have raised more than £1.4 million pounds for PAPYRUS but history will record their true legacy as priceless. Together they have helped to start conversations in homes and communities where families were unable or unwilling to discuss suicide.
“These proud fathers, each trying to deal with their own grief in their own way, found a positive path forward together and are now rightly honoured as our heroes.”
