Published at 13:41, Friday, 02 January 2009

A TRAUMATIC year has ended in regal style for Bellingham’s Dorothy Bell.

Honoured: Dorothy Bell MBE.

For the driving force behind the creation of the Heritage Centre at Bellingham has been made an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.

Dorothy’s year to forget began when she and husband Jim took a nasty tumble down an escalator in Manchester, putting them both in hospital.

They had only just recovered when a bout of pneumonia triggered a dormant heart condition in the 74-year-old retired school-teacher, which put her back into hospital.

Problems with the pacemaker with which she was eventually fitted meant further time on the wards, and adding to her stress was the fact that her only daughter Elizabeth was getting married.

So when an official-looking letter marked “private” dropped on the mat just three days before the wedding, Dorothy feared the worst.

Dorothy said this week: “It was such a relief when I opened it to find it wasn’t more bad news!

“I was too stunned to think, but I am obviously delighted that the work of the Heritage Centre has been recognised.”

The dream which became the Heritage Centre started when Dorothy came across a box of old photographs belonging to her husband’s aunts.

She realised a lot of local history was being allowed to disappear, and soon established there were others in the village who felt the same way.

A committee was hastily formed, and the result is now a highly regarded museum which pulls in thousands of visitors every year.

Dorothy and Jim were both made life members of the centre earlier this year.

Dorothy was one of a number of Tynedale people recognised by the Queen in the honours list.

Made a CBE was Hexham’s Dr Sue Roberts, one of the country’s top experts on the scourge of diabetes.

The award was made in recognition of her services to healthcare, primarily in her role as the national clinical director for diabetes to which she was appointed in 2003.

Having trained in London, Newfoundland and Newcastle, Dr Roberts developed comprehensive district-wide diabetes services linked to a “Healthy Hearts” programme.

Recognised by the Queen for the second time was firefighter Alan Holmes, of Horsley.

He was awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal in the 2002 New Year Honours List – and can now write OBE after his name.

He is the programme director for all the North-East fire and rescue services, and picks up his award for services to local government.

He has been involved in the fire service for well over 40 years, latterly as deputy chief fire officer for the Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade.

He has served in most departments of the brigade with a special interest in community fire safety and the arson task force.

His main sporting interest is as chairman of the fire service sports and athletics association football section (FSSAA) and he is vice-chairman of the national committee.

Rural housing expert Professor Mark Shucksmith, from Stocksfield, is also made an OBE.

He is professor of planning at Newcastle University, and formerly was professor of land economy and director of the Arkleton Centre for Rural Development Research at the University of Aberdeen.

He chaired the committee of inquiry on crofting for the Scottish Government last year, and is one of the country’s leading authorities on rural housing, social exclusion in rural areas and rural development.

He spent eight years as programme director for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's Action in Rural Areas programme, and served during 2005-06 as a member of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk