Senior Orangeman Noel Liggett awarded MBE in New Year's Honours list for developing good relations on Ormeau Road for over 30 years

Noel Liggett, District Master of Ballynafeigh LOL No 10, led his district through the combative parade disputes of the 1990s into a period of organisational outreach and cultural exchanges with the overwhelmingly nationalist community the lodge is now based in.

He was made an MBE, with the citation noting he had “demonstrated outstanding determination, tenacity, and drive in promoting good relations and community cohesion in south Belfast for 30 years as district master of the Number 10 District Lodge”.

Among his accomplishments were that "in 2018, he facilitated a cultural exchange between Ballynafeigh Orange Lodge and Bredagh GAA, believed to be the first of its kind, which was highly commended and seen as a model for peaceful co-existence in south Belfast".

Mr Liggett told the News Letter: "It is quite a surprise in light of the work I have had to do for 30 years. You could say it's controversial, so you don't really think people want to touch that."

His lodge at Ballynafeigh Orange Hall has been located on the Ormeau Road for over 210 years.

However due to demographic changes, the road has become 80% nationalist.

In the 1990s it was caught up in wider protests against Orange Parades.

"We tried various forms of negotiation with the Lower Ormeau Concerned Community association, which didn't prove successful,” he said.

"In 2000 we realized people in our own community had a great fear of the Orange Hall. So what we've done is to open it up to the wider public."

He added: "The Orange Order has never been able to survive on a road which has become overwhelmingly Roman Catholic or nationalist, and the Ormeau Road is 80% Roman Catholic.

"So we had a choice to make: do we simply pull up the drawbridge and be in everyone's face and just do what we want? Or do you accept that there's a wider community that you have to take into consideration? So we went down a route of wider consideration."

He added: "We've brought various other groups in from both sides of the community, where we would give them a tour, an education in the Orange Order on the Ormeau Road and then let them ask any questions they want."

They also invited the Polish community in for a visit.

"They were actually very appreciative of us flying the Polish flag – it was the first time they it flying in Belfast."

He was surprised to find out that the Cabinet Office investigates your tax records and social media feeds before approving you for an honour.

"They want to see if there's anything that could embarrass the king before they agree to give it to you," he said.

He got the letter – stamped with 'Cabinet Office' – inviting him to accept the award in November.

“When you see that letter on the doormat, you think, 'Oh no, what have I done wrong?’ – So I was genuinely surprised when I opened it."

But he does not see the award making any difference to his life.

“I will just tootle along at my own wee pace."