Tributes paid to Queen’s Birthday Honours Recipient 

The Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Errol Thompson has congratulated long-standing member of staff, Florence Willis, on her recent recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Florence, from Bellanaleck, has been employed by the Council since April 1979 as an attendant at the Council operated facilities at Bellanaleck Marina and was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) recently for services to local government and the community.

Offering his congratulations, Councillor Thompson said;

“The award of the British Empire Medal to Florence in the Queen’s Birthday Honours is recognition of her 42 years of dedicated public service to the people of the Fermanagh and Omagh district and more particularly the people of Bellanaleck.

Florence joined the legacy Fermanagh District Council in April 1979 and has been responsible for the upkeep of the facilities at Bellanaleck Marina since then. The many compliments which the Council has received with regard to the facilities at Bellanaleck in the intervening years is testament to her commitment and dedication to her job. Florence is an inspiration to her colleagues and we are very proud that her work has been duly recognised in this way.”

Speaking about her award, Florence said;

“When I got the call from the Cabinet Office, I was shocked and surprised and found it hard to believe.

I am in the very fortunate position of loving what I do and knowing that I am making a small contribution to my community is a source of great pride to me.

To receive recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours is a very proud moment for me and my family and I am deeply humbled and grateful that anyone would consider me worthy of such recognition. I look forward to continuing to serve the community of Bellanaleck for some time to come.”

The Chief Executive of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Alison McCullagh said:

“Florence has been an inspiration to us for many years and the manner in which she discharges her duties with such pride and attention to detail has earned her many compliments over the years. Florence was recognised in the 2019 Staff Awards when she was named Customer Services Award winner and this latest accolade is just recognition of her excellent contribution to her community as a Council employee of more than four decades.”

Florence will be invited to Hillsborough Castle, at a future date to be confirmed, to receive her British Empire Medal.