AN Ulster Unionist councillor has been awarded the MBE for her services to local government and the community.
Deputy Mayor of Armagh Sylvia McRoberts has been an Armagh and District councillor since 1993 and served as mayor between 2001 and 2002.
She also previously served as deputy mayor between 2008 and 2009 and has been recognised for her “deep commitment” to the people of the city and her work to enhance the lives of the local population.
Another MBE recipient is a life-long supporter of pipe bands in Northern Ireland, Thomas Millar.
The former News Letter employee is a well-known broadcaster on BBC Radio Ulster and the honorary vice president of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
He has been recognised for his decades of promoting pipe bands right from grassroots level to the world stage.
Also an honorary life member of the Association, Mr Millar said he was “blown away” by news of the award.
“This has knocked me out – I don’t know where I am. It’s unbelievable at the end of a long, long career involved with the bands.
“I used to play but my work interfered with my practice,” he said.
“I was involved in getting the Tartan Talk [News Letter] column going back about 1969 or 1970 when there were very few newspapers looking at the bands.”
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