A ROAD safety campaigner, Girl Guide leaders, a science professor and charitable volunteers are among regional stalwarts honoured in the New Year's Honours for their tireless work.
Janet Warin, 67, will be made an MBE after campaigning to save lives on the roads following the death of her son, Daniel, in a car crash 20 years ago.
John Townsley of Cawood, executive principal of The Gorse Academies Trust, is knighted for services to education. Girl Guide volunteers Lesley Strathie, 55, and Katherine O'Neil, will be made MBEs, as will Roger Percival, foundation chairman of all 78 rotary clubs in Yorkshire, and WO Class 2 Mark Adrian Hill.
Meanwhile, both Professor Robert Hamilton Millar, Emeritus Professor for Innovation and Research in Science Education at the University of York, and Col Edward Christopher York will be given OBEs for services to education and charity respectively.
Mrs Warin and her husband, David, 74, of Pickering, began working with York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership’s 95 Alive campaign after their son Daniel’s death in 1995.
Daniel was just 17 and had passed his driving test only weeks before he died in a single-car crash between Helmsley and Pickering.
Reacting to news of her honour, Mrs Warin said: “It is just a privilege and an honour and I really can’t believe it.
“When Daniel died it was either sink or swim and we decided that we wanted to make something good come out of it. We go in to schools for every Drive Alive day as bereaved parents and it seems to make a difference."
Lesley Strathie, of Riccall, is being made an MBE for her work in the Department for Work and Pensions as well as for her Brown Owl role at Copmanthorpe Brownies.
She said: "I got involved, as a lot people do, because the unit would have closed if a parent hadn't stepped in to help the leader.
"One of my best achievements was in March this year, organising a sleep-over for BBC Radio York's Good Night’s Sleep Appeal, when 150 Brownies slept in the conference room at the Hilton Hotel.”
Grandfather-of-four Roger Percival has travelled to some of the most deprived places on the planet to help others through the work of Rotary.
He said: "The Rotary motto is service above self and it's about seeing other people do what they want to do.
"I've got a great deal out of Rotary because of what I've done to help others."
Lesley Calvert, 50, manager of Funfishers Out of School Club and Playgroup in York, Renee Ounsley, secretary of Pollington Memorial Garden Committee, National Railway Museum volunteer David Thomas, 77 and Susan Watson, president of RNLI Flamborough Lifeboat Supporters all received the British Empire Medal (BEM).
Mr Thomas, who has been a volunteer at the NRM since 1977, said: "It's a tremendous honour.
"I was delighted and flattered.
"I feel as though it's more than I deserve because there's an awful lot of people that spend a lot of time here in their lives."
The grandfather-of-two first volunteered on the museum's information desk but was later involved in the Mallard's 50th anniversary celebrations and the Great Railway Show in 1990.
Funfishers manager Lesley Calvert, 50, of Osbaldwick, said: "It hasn't sunk in yet.
"We finished a big extension in September and I'm really proud we can now take in babies and children up to 11, so it's the full package for parents."
Joan Sadler, who died recently aged 92 after giving her time, skills and passion to a host of organisations and charities in York, was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community. It is likely a family representative will be presented with the medal on her behalf.
Joan was on the organising committee of York's Community Carol Concert for many years, and was president of the Rowntree Players, a life member of York Amateur Operatic Society and a supporter of organisations including the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Joseph Rowntree Theatre,York Stage Musical Theatre, York Light Opera, New Earswick Musical Society, Music Night Concert Group, York Musical Society York Philharmonic Choir, Shepherd Group Brass Band, York Railway Institute Band and Fanfare Brass.
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