Crumlin woman awarded MBE

Helen (52) from Long Rig Road, who has a long list of achievements, said she would not have received the award without the hard working team behind her - other board members Stuart Graham, Jan Smit, Phillip O’Neill, Adrian McMullan and John Farr.

She has been a member of Crumlin Together board since 2006, and has helped the group transform the village. With closer links with the council they have helped secure grants for summer schemes and various environment projects.

“Crumlin has now become one of the fastest growing villages in Northern Ireland with young people under 16 making up 28 per cent of the population,” she said.

“Environmentally, Crumlin has a beautiful glen. I live close by and I did not realise there was such a beautiful place which was used unfortunately as a place where young people were drinking, often out of boredom.

“Our aim was to keep the glen the way it should be, just a real asset for Crumlin and for all to enjoy.”

Helen said there is still a lot of work to be done in Crumlin for a village that is quickly growing in population and popularity.

“Many people on the board of Crumlin Together keep a house, have full time pressurised jobs and still they make time to attend meetings and do the things that need to be done for which I am truly thankful” she said.

Helen is a chartered accountant for Invest Northern Ireland in the Corporate Finance Division and is an interim chairman and Non-Executive Director, with UTV Media plc.

Her achievements inlcude being Director, of Kingspan Group PLC, Director, of Crumlin Together Limited (2005-2008), Chairman, CAUSE (NI) Ltd (2007), Board member, International Fund for Ireland (2000-2006), Director, Enterprise Equity Venture Capital Group (2000-2006) and Director, NI-CO (Northern Ireland Public Sector Enterprises Ltd) (2000-2006).Helen is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.