Queen’s birthday honours for Denbighshire community figures

Jun 17 2009 by Andrew Davies, Denbigh Visitor

A FIRE service manager and a number of stalwarts in Denbighshire communities were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Senior manager at North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and will receive an MBE for services to local government.

Linda Roberts works as Control Manager, responsible for the 35 North Wales Fire and Rescue Service staff who operate in the Joint Communications Centre, responding to emergency calls from the public around the clock.

Linda, 56, recently led her staff through a significant period of change leading up to the project to transfer the service's control operations from Rhyl to the new Joint Communications Centre based alongside North Wales Police in St Asaph.

On receiving the news that she had been awarded an MBE, Linda said: “Once I got over the initial shock, it was a massive honour to be recognised in this way and I would like to dedicate this honour to my staff, who are consistently professional and hard working and always respond positively, and to my family who have supported me throughout my career.”

Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith said: “North Wales is leading the way with respect to Control Room operations and this is down to Linda’s energetic and visionary management style and it is fitting that these qualities have been recognised in this way.

“She is an exemplary leader and has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the Joint Communications Centre project has been successful.”

North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority Chairman Trevor Roberts said: “The Joint Communication Centre is unique in terms of partnership working and it is a testament to Linda's excellent management skills. I am delighted she has received the recognition she deserves.”

Linda lives in Dyserth with her partner, Trevor Jones, and two children Adam and Christine. She joined the fire service as a Control Operator in 1980, working her way up to Control Manager in 1999. She was recently awarded the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service Community Personal Contribution Award for her work associated with managing the Joint Communications Centre project.

Others recognised from Denbighshire include Eurwen Holland Edwards, of Rhyl, who has been honoured with an OBE for voluntary service to the community; Jean Mary Sherriff, of Rhyl, is honoured with an OBE for services to the Citizens' Advice Bureau in Denbighshire and Eric Campbell Black, of Rhyl, is honoured with a MBE for services to the community in Rhyl.

ERIC Black, 73 will receive an MBE for his services to the community of Rhyl.

Since the formation of the Rhyl South West Central Residents’ Association and the Save the Botanical Gardens Campaign in 2003, Eric has been the secretary and treasurer.

In 2003 the future of the gardens and cafe looked bleak and without his dogged persistence the considerable improvements that have been brought about in the Botanical Gardens as a result of the work of the Residents’ Association would not have succeeded.

The part played by Eric and his wife Hazel in transforming the uncertain future of the Botanical Gardens and adjoining Coronation Gardens was further recognised by Rhyl Rotary Club last year when they presented the couple with the Rotary Community Service Award for 2008.

Eric has also involved himself in other community projects such as the Rhyl Furniture Recycling Depot. He has been chairman of the Rhyl Area Partnership which was set up to influence services and service planning and help improve the quality of life for the town’s residents.