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Lloyd Coombes |
Birthday honours for community heroes
Queen grants gongs to a range of professions
A FORMER Islington ambulance man who devoted his life to bringing music to old people received the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours this week.
Lloyd Coombes, 52, described as one of the borough’s great unsung heroes, joined the likes of television historian David Starkey and award-winning dramatist Stephen Poliakoff, who both received CBEs for their work.
Mr Coombes encourages OAPs to sing or pick up instruments, often discarded many years ago, as part of their therapy and enjoyment.
He manages two-day centres – the Alsen Day Centre on Durham Road, Holloway, and the New Park Day Centre, in Highbury New Park, Highbury.
He runs drama and music workshops and promotes an OAP band the New Park Swingers. He is also vice chairman of the charity Islington Music Forum bringing rock, soul and 60s sounds to OAPs.
“A lot of old people rediscover music after suffering illnesses or strokes – it’s all part of keeping people active.”
He added that he got a call from Downing Street last month saying that he was going to be offered an MBE. Would he accept it? “I said yes, I think I will. It’s a great honour for me but I couldn’t do without the support of colleagues.”
Stephen Poliakov who lives at the Angel and is an Islington resident for 30 years was delighted with the award.
“The borough has been a great influence on my work,” he said,”And I have lots of fond memories of performances at the Kings Head and Almeida theatre and rehearsing at Sadler’s Wells.
Also honoured is Errollyn Wallen 49, who gets the MBE for her services to music.
The composer studied at the Universities of London and Cambridge and has won acclaim for her short operas at the Royal Opera house and at Sadler’s Wells.
She said: “I feel really great because it’s an area of music that often goes unnoticed. It’s wonderful to receive such recognition”. Her latest opera, Silent Twins, opening next month at the Almeida Theatre.
In 2004, Wallen recorded an album of her own songs and solo piano music, entitled Errollyn.
She also won acclaim for her short operas at the Royal Opera House and at Sadler’s Wells.
Bernadette Duncan, head of security at City University received an MBE for her services to higher education in recognition of her outstanding leadership on security-related matters.
She said: “I’ve been here for 19 years and I supervise 30 security staff. I shall be treating them all to a drink to celebrate.”
David Adjaye, 41, is awarded the OBE for services to architecture.
He won the Royal Institute for British Architects Award for the Stephen Lawrence centre in Lewisham, a memorial to the student murdered in a racist attack in 1993.
Proving himself a diverse recipient, Adjaye has presented two BBC television series based on modern architecture as well a documentary titled “Building Africa, The architecture of a Continent”.
Asked about his award, Adjaye said: “I’m incredibly surprised. It’s a great honour to be included on such a list.”
Others living and working in Islington who have been honoured are Flora Goldhill, who received a CBE for her services to healthcare.
John McGlone was honoured with a CBE for his work as deputy director of legal services in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Revered and controversial black film director Horace Ove won a CBE for his services to the film industry. |
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Lloyd Coombes is an inspiration to everyone who has met him. In all the years I have been honoured to call him my friend he has had not one negative word to say about anyone, and I believe he probably never even had a negative thought either.
Well Lloyd, it turned out nice again!
Struan |
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