YMCA LEADER IS NAMED IN NEW YEARS HONOURS LIST
YMCA leader is named in New Year honours list
By JACQUELINE COURTNEY
Recipient says news will speed his recovery.
AN OMAGH man will next week celebrate his best ever birthday in 85 years with news of an early present coming his way to appropriately honour his life-long services to the YMCA.
Tommy Strain, who is currently recovering in Springlawn Nursing Home after a fall, is to receive the MBE for his sterling service to the century old Omagh association. He is one of Omagh YMCA's leading lights and official recognition of his sterling works will no doubt lead to his speedy recovery.
However, it is understood that Tommy will remain in the home for a further few weeks but nevertheless will be in fine fettle for his big , date with the Queen later in the Year.
On Tuesday next, Tommy, a well known personality in the district, will celebrate in style after officially featuring in the Queens New Years Honours List.
And prior news of his award had Tommy literally jumping for joy at his home at Rodgers Villas, Hospital Road.
But that was before his unfortunate accident coming out of Church near his home, which left him with a broken collar bone and a broken left wrist. Now living on his own since the death of his wife some years ago, Tommy unable to fend for himself due to his injuries, had to move into the Nursing Home where he has become somewhat a celebrity.
Speaking highly about his new residence, Tommy says "its just like home from home . . . but only better."
With rows and rows of congratulatory cards and messages from well wishers including official letters from high ranking politicians, including the First Minister, David Trimble, the old twinkle has quickly returned to Tommy's roving eye.
Tommy admitted it is by far the best thing to happen to him in all his wildest dreams and he 'just can't believe it has happened' .
A former compositor reader with the Tyrone Constitution - a position he held for over 40 years -Tommy was also President of the Omagh YMCA for approximately four decades years. He had only recently removed himself from that position but faithfully remained on as an active member. He is reputed to be one of the longest serving and surviving members of the local organisation which has been in town for over 100 years. Tommy joined the YMCA over 70 years ago. His great love for the YMCA saw him wearing a number of other sporting caps including President, Chairman and Captain of some of the organisations greatest Billiards and Tennis teams.
He will also be fondly recalled as the shining light of the great concerts era when the YMCA became synonymous for putting on some of the finest performances throughout the district and further afield.
Noted for his famous recitations, Tommy became even more widely known following his appearance on the Late Late Show with Gay Byrne. And more recently a civic reception was held in his honour by Omagh District Council in tribute to his YMCA commuity contributions.
His reaction to the honourable MBE news was,"I shouted for glee and joy as I never thought such an award would ever come to me. I was literally jumping for joy. I think that someone within the organisation must have put my name forward. Never did I think that a boy from the old Model School in Omagh would ever receive an award like this. This is a great honour for me and I am delighted it has come my way," added Tommy.
Praising the Association, he said it was renowned for making decent men out of young lads through the excellent training they received in the YMCA.
"Many men owe it a great debt of gratitude," said Tommy
Tommy is the only local civilian in this area to have been honoured in this year's New Day Honours list although there were a number of other recipients.
The police officer who supervised the Body Recovery and Identification Team in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing was one of four RUC officers awarded the Queen's Police Medal.
Detective Superintendent John Middlemiss (57) has just completed a year in Kosovo as regional commander of the Prestina UN police force.
In 1980, he transferred to the RUC from the Metropolitan Police as a sergeant. He was one of the founding members of the Serious Crime Squad, a member of the Anti-Racketeering Squad and Divisional Head of CID.
While in Kosovo, the Detective Superintendent's team of 1,500 officers provided executive policing services including the implementation of joint patrolling and operations with military colleagues.
Former Omagh RUC chief, Det Chief Superintendent Wynnfield Hooke was also awarded an MBE for services to the police.
Mr Hook (54) who was Sub Divisional Commander in Omagh from 1986-89, is currently head of the RUC's Criminal Justice Administration branch.
Throughout his time in the force, he has combined operational posts with periods in Training Branch and he has also fostered strong links with other agencies in the criminal justice system.
In 1992, he attended the Federal Executive Institute in Virginia which trains senior US civil servants.
Mr Hooke is vice-chairman of the RUC Historical Society and is heavily involved in church work which recently took him to Zambia.
By JACQUELINE COURTNEY
Recipient says news will speed his recovery.
AN OMAGH man will next week celebrate his best ever birthday in 85 years with news of an early present coming his way to appropriately honour his life-long services to the YMCA.
Tommy Strain, who is currently recovering in Springlawn Nursing Home after a fall, is to receive the MBE for his sterling service to the century old Omagh association. He is one of Omagh YMCA's leading lights and official recognition of his sterling works will no doubt lead to his speedy recovery.
However, it is understood that Tommy will remain in the home for a further few weeks but nevertheless will be in fine fettle for his big , date with the Queen later in the Year.
On Tuesday next, Tommy, a well known personality in the district, will celebrate in style after officially featuring in the Queens New Years Honours List.
And prior news of his award had Tommy literally jumping for joy at his home at Rodgers Villas, Hospital Road.
But that was before his unfortunate accident coming out of Church near his home, which left him with a broken collar bone and a broken left wrist. Now living on his own since the death of his wife some years ago, Tommy unable to fend for himself due to his injuries, had to move into the Nursing Home where he has become somewhat a celebrity.
Speaking highly about his new residence, Tommy says "its just like home from home . . . but only better."
With rows and rows of congratulatory cards and messages from well wishers including official letters from high ranking politicians, including the First Minister, David Trimble, the old twinkle has quickly returned to Tommy's roving eye.
Tommy admitted it is by far the best thing to happen to him in all his wildest dreams and he 'just can't believe it has happened' .
A former compositor reader with the Tyrone Constitution - a position he held for over 40 years -Tommy was also President of the Omagh YMCA for approximately four decades years. He had only recently removed himself from that position but faithfully remained on as an active member. He is reputed to be one of the longest serving and surviving members of the local organisation which has been in town for over 100 years. Tommy joined the YMCA over 70 years ago. His great love for the YMCA saw him wearing a number of other sporting caps including President, Chairman and Captain of some of the organisations greatest Billiards and Tennis teams.
He will also be fondly recalled as the shining light of the great concerts era when the YMCA became synonymous for putting on some of the finest performances throughout the district and further afield.
Noted for his famous recitations, Tommy became even more widely known following his appearance on the Late Late Show with Gay Byrne. And more recently a civic reception was held in his honour by Omagh District Council in tribute to his YMCA commuity contributions.
His reaction to the honourable MBE news was,"I shouted for glee and joy as I never thought such an award would ever come to me. I was literally jumping for joy. I think that someone within the organisation must have put my name forward. Never did I think that a boy from the old Model School in Omagh would ever receive an award like this. This is a great honour for me and I am delighted it has come my way," added Tommy.
Praising the Association, he said it was renowned for making decent men out of young lads through the excellent training they received in the YMCA.
"Many men owe it a great debt of gratitude," said Tommy
Tommy is the only local civilian in this area to have been honoured in this year's New Day Honours list although there were a number of other recipients.
The police officer who supervised the Body Recovery and Identification Team in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing was one of four RUC officers awarded the Queen's Police Medal.
Detective Superintendent John Middlemiss (57) has just completed a year in Kosovo as regional commander of the Prestina UN police force.
In 1980, he transferred to the RUC from the Metropolitan Police as a sergeant. He was one of the founding members of the Serious Crime Squad, a member of the Anti-Racketeering Squad and Divisional Head of CID.
While in Kosovo, the Detective Superintendent's team of 1,500 officers provided executive policing services including the implementation of joint patrolling and operations with military colleagues.
Former Omagh RUC chief, Det Chief Superintendent Wynnfield Hooke was also awarded an MBE for services to the police.
Mr Hook (54) who was Sub Divisional Commander in Omagh from 1986-89, is currently head of the RUC's Criminal Justice Administration branch.
Throughout his time in the force, he has combined operational posts with periods in Training Branch and he has also fostered strong links with other agencies in the criminal justice system.
In 1992, he attended the Federal Executive Institute in Virginia which trains senior US civil servants.
Mr Hooke is vice-chairman of the RUC Historical Society and is heavily involved in church work which recently took him to Zambia.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0724
Published Date: 04-Jan-01
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