Right royal praise for pair honoured by the Queen

Dedicated Airdrie mum Carol Russell has been rewarded for more than two decades of helping others by receiving an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list.

Carol, the chair of charity HOPE for Autism, was honoured for her first-class services to “speech and language therapy education, autism awareness and charity work”.

The selfless community champion contacted our Facebook page to say: “Thanks for your lovely comments; I appreciate every one of them. It’s been a crazy week and raised the profile of the charity with all the shares from this post.

“So thanks Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser, from all the families at HOPE, for running this story.”

Advertiser reader Jacqui Goldie posted :“Absolutely fantastic Carol Russell – and well deserved.”

Anne Majury added: “Congratulations Carol, well deserved. You do amazing work.”

Eileen Rolink commented: “Well done Carol, what a great achievement.”

Angela Reilly passed on her congratulations :“Well de served Carol .”

Sharon Strachan said:“This is fantastic news.”

Belinda Farmer showered Carol with praise: “What a fantastic lady; I can’t think of anyone more deserving of an MBE.

“She has been a tower of strength for so many families across Monklands.”

Also deservedly recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list was former Airdrie Academy teacher Elizabeth Pearson.

Elizabeth, who met her husband Eddie at the Airdrie secondary school, received the British Empire Medal for services to music and education in Lanarkshire.

Linsay Elliot had the pleasure of being taught by Elizabeth: “Well done Mrs Pearson. What an accolade for a great teacher!

“I loved her music classes; the school shows were the best!”

As did fellow Advertiser reader Trudie Spiers: “Wow, congratulations Mrs Pearson, from an ex-pupil.”

Michelle McCallum posted: “This is very well deserved.”

Gary Carmichael said: “Well done to Elizabeth; an honour to treasure.”

Finally, Jim Paterson joked that he had somehow slipped the Queen’s mind when she was putting her birthday honour’s list together: “I got missed out again; this is beyond a joke.”