Council staff among those honoured in new year list
A school crossing warden in Nuneaton and the manager of the county council's children centres in Warwick West and Leamington have been awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours list.
Elizabeth Hollins was nominated by her managers at Warwickshire County Council for her ‘extraordinary service’ following spells at Gun Hill School in Arley, St Anne’s in Camp Hill and Galley Common and for additional work with schools delivering road safety messages.
Elizabeth’s nomination for the honour pointed to her enthusiastic approach and engagement with children and adults alike.
Elizabeth became a crossing warden after being approached by the head teacher of her daughter’s school, Gun Hill School in Arley. She ‘fell in love with the job’. Speaking of when she received the letter, she said.
“When I received the letter, I thought it was a parking ticket at first. I’ve never been so surprised in my life.”
Also honoured at new year was Olwyn Ditchburn who manages seven children’s centres in Warwick West and Leamington.
Olwyn has helped vulnerable families throughout her working life and now oversees the running of the centres where families gather and can participate in ante-natal classes, healthy eating cookery sessions, baby clinics and language and communication classes.
Olwyn’s nomination drew attention to her ‘championing the needs of more vulnerable families’ and making all families feel ‘welcome and valued’.
Modestly, upon hearing of her award, she said: “I was so surprised and shocked when they told me. I would hate to see this as an individual achievement because it’s very much about what the team achieves.”