New Year Honours reward for
PEOPLE who have made a big difference locally or nationally have been rewarded in the New Year Honours.
Among them is a bank boss who became a volunteer bus driver.
David Ainslie, who receives a British Empire Medal, led the Lloyds Bank commercial lending team, responsible for about 1,000 employees.
After he retired in 2008 he joined Uppingham Town Council and used his persuasive powers – “badgering everyone for help” – to get a volunteer-driven free bus for the town.
As well as chief fund-raiser for the Uppingham Hopper, David, 63, is a regular driver.
He said: “I’m so proud. It feels wonderful and I’m delighted.”
It was in 2011 that he first earned a seat on the town council.
He said: “Joining the council coincided with the 2011 Localism Act that gave parish and town councils more powers.
“At the time, Oakham had a hopper bus but Uppingham didn’t.
“I said to the leader of Rutland County Council we should have one, too, but he said Uppingham was too small.
“I badgered him until he agreed to lend us a bus so we could have a try to see if there was a need for one.
“I needed to find some drivers so – there’s a theme here – I badgered a lot more people to get involved.”
After proving the plan was viable, David, who by then had become the town’s mayor, raised £1,500 in one night towards a better bus.
He said: “The one the county council lent us was a second-hand, clapped-out old thing.”
The target of £8,000 was reached 18 months later and with a £25,000 loan from Rutland County Council and money from the National Lottery, the 13-seat minibus has been on the road since May 2018.
The artist who runs Wistow Maze has been made an MBE for her work with young people.
Diana Brooks, who lives at Wistow Hall, set up the Art for Youth Exhibition 30 years ago. It raises cash to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people through art.
Young artists exhibit their work in London and the event has raised more than £1.6 million in three decades.
Wistow Maze also raises cash for charity and Diana has run the annual Music in the Park at Wistow Hall for 12 years, which has raised another £90,000 for charities including Loros, Rainbows hospice, Hope Against Cancer and the air ambulance.
Diana, 59, said: “I can’t quite believe it, if I’m honest.
“It’s a complete shock. I love all the work I do so I don’t expect to be rewarded for it like this. I’m very touched that someone wrote in to recommend me.
“I got quite choked up when I realised I’d got it.”
A British Empire Medal has been given to the man who wrote the book on water rescue.
Andrew Ebben’s involvement with the Royal Life Saving Society goes back three decades, while his love of swimming started when he was seven.
Andrew, 66, of Belton, near Loughborough, said: “I did my lifesaver certificate when I was seven and then got my first job as a lifeguard in 1975.
It’s a complete shock. I love all the work I do so I don’t expect to be rewarded for it like this
Diana Brooks
“I’d just come out of the Army and had a job I hated and my sister suggested it.
“I went to the Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, where I lived, and said ‘Give me a job’ and they did.” After two years at the pool he came to Loughborough University to do a sports science degree and joined the Royal Life Saving Society. When some safety regulation laws came in, he was asked to write the first manual for how pool lifeguards should be trained and certified.
He has been involved in every edition of the official manual ever since and has also written guides on beach safety and specialist areas such as rescuing swimmers with spinal injuries.
After serving as managing director of the society he is “trying to retire” but still freelancing as a water safety expert.
“I’m humbled people thought that what I’d done was worthy of this honour,” he said.
The citation for his award from the Cabinet Office said: “His contribution has resulted in fewer drownings in UK pools and in open water or beach environments.”
Andrew said: “I feel humbled and honoured.”
Solicitor Christl Hughes has been championing the rights of trans people since retiring.
The 65-year-old, from Wigston Harcourt, who is made an MBE, has