New Year Honour: Acclaimed pianist Barry Douglas is made a CBE
An internationally acclaimed concert pianist from Lurgan has been honoured in the New Year list.
William Barry Douglas is receiving a CBE for services to music and community relations.
Also recognised is the principal of Northern Ireland’s first integrated secondary school, Amanda McNamee, who is also an MBE.
“I was delighted, it was lovely news in what has been a challenging year in education,” she said.
Over 26 years she has taught in Belfast Boys’ Model, Drumragh Integrated College in Omagh, Methodist College and now Lagan College.
“I would like to think that all the people I have worked with, from my very first school to now, have helped to shape and form the type of educator that I have become,” she said.
A community worker from east Belfast has been made an MBE, in recognition of his work over the last four decades.
Michael Briggs, an executive director of the East Belfast Community Development Agency, said he has been humbled by the recognition.
The 57-year-old has been volunteering and working in East Belfast since he was aged 14.
“It is very humbling as there is a lot of people involved in community organisations,” he said.
He has worked in a voluntary and paid capacity carrying out work with the youth sector, community and cross-community sector as well as working on Belfast’s interface projects.
The leading psychiatrist Dr Philip McGarry gets an OBE for services to mental health and to the community.