Ellen to receive a British Empire Medal in honours
Citizens Advice worker’s gong
A Wishaw gran is glad she doesn’t have to keep a big secret from her family anymore.
Ellen Phillips , from Lyman Drive, was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for her services to the community in Lanarkshire.
The 68-year-old is a director at Motherwell and Wishaw Citizens’ Advice Bureau and was over the moon with the award.
She declared the hardest part was keeping the secret from her close friends and family after she found out five weeks ago.
Ellen said: “I was delighted when I heard but because of confidentiality I had to make sure nobody knew.
“After the news came out my daughter Heather said she could have kept it a secret but I didn’t want to take any risks.
“I’ve been invited to Buckingham Palace as part of the whole process and I’m really looking forward to it”
Ellen started at the Citizens Advice Bureau 28 years ago and said she never thought for a second she would end up with British Empire Medal.
“I was a volunteer at first before being a front line advisor and then I trained to be a tutor so I could help deliver various training sessions,” she added.
“I’ve always enjoyed my job and it’s thanks to my husband George because I needed to find something new to do and he came home one day after being in a work meeting and thought I would like it at the CAB.
“He was right so I guess I have to give him some credit for this.”
Ellen was nominated by CAB executive manager Kinga Kosakowska and that was approved by their board of directors.
Hard-working Ellen may be forgiven for wanting a break after her success but she insists she will not be looking to stop any time soon.
She added: “People always ask me if I think I’ll call it a day but I’m still enjoying it and still learning new things all the time.
“I think you know yourself when to call it a day but I’ve not given it any real thought yet.”