Dedicated volunteer and fundraising receives BEM

Lilian Coleman

 

A FORMER volunteer with the South Eastern Health Trust, and dedicated member of Dundonald Presbyterian Church, has been conferred with the British Empire Medal (BEM).

Lilian Coleman was named in King Charles III’s birthday honours in June, and last month she attended the awards ceremony at Hillsborough Castle, where she was bestowed with a BEM by the Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle.

Lilian, who is a member of Dundonald Women’s Institute, received the honour for voluntary and charitable services to the community in Belfast and missionary work in Africa.

Her fellow WI members are extremely proud of Lilian; as one member said: “Lilian has devoted her life to supporting the needs of others, whether that be in her local community or far afield.

“She and her late husband Archie volunteered for 35 years with the South Eastern Trust. They ran a radio show, visiting the wards in the Ulster Hospital for requests or a chat with patients. On Sunday mornings they wheeled patients to and from a hospital church service.”

Together with her sister Sharon, Lilian set up the first Squirrel group in Northern Ireland about 40 years ago. She was a Brown Owl and a Sunday School teacher.

Some of Lilian’s greatest personal memories come from her visits to Tanzania and Uganda, which she visited twice. The ‘day job’” was the  manual labour of building projects, whilst visiting schools and primitive hospitals in the evening, when it became too hot to work.

Lilian works tirelessly in Dundonald Presbyterian Church, leading a preschool parents and toddlers group for several years as well as volunteering for a morning drop-in group.  She continues to fundraise for local charities utilising her love of knitting to support the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Friends of the Cancer Unit. 

Lilian has led, and continues to lead, a full and active life. Her daughter jokes that with all that her mum got involved in, she was a neglected child! Personally I don’t believe that for one minute. Lilian is so deserving of the honour she has received. Her family and many friends are delighted that a long life of service to others has been recognised.

Lilian Coleman wears her BEM which she received at Hillsborough Castle.