Ballinderry woman honoured by award

Margaret, from Ballyvannon Road, is Head of Corporate Services and was first notified at the end of April that she would receive the MBE as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

“It came as a great surprise to me and it was difficult to keep the secret,” said Margaret who has worked for the electoral office for 35 years.

Margaret has worked under five Chief Electoral Officers - the late Roy Kerr, Patrick A Bradley, Denis Stanley and Douglas Bain.

The current Chief Electoral Officer, Graham Shields, described Margaret’s award as a ‘fantastic achievement and very well deserved.’

Margaret was told there would be no more correspondence after the initial letter so it wasn’t the early hours of Saturday morning, when Margaret checked the internet, that she spotted her name.

“I could not believe that my name was included alongside such outstanding people,” said Margaret. “I feel very privileged and humbled. It is a huge honour for doing a job I enjoy and working with loyal and dedicated staff of the Electoral Office for Northern who work over and above the call of duty during Elections.”

Since then she has has been receiving text messages, phone calls and visits from family, work colleagues and friends offering their congratulations.

Margaret joined the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland on January 4, 1977 after working for ten years at the Legal Aid department of the Law Society for Northern Ireland.

She is married to Raymond and has one son, Robert Errol (27), who is an Actuator Development Engineer in Cambridge.

She said: “I plan to retire next year and it is a nice way to end your career. I will cherish this award which will be a constant reminder of the many people I have had the pleasure to work with during the past 35 years.”