Queen’s birthday honours: Holocaust survivors and teen Asperger’s pioneer awarded
Written by News on 08/06/2019
A teenage Asperger’s pioneer, a group of Holocaust survivors and a couple who help children caught up in domestic abuse are among those recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
Away from the star names, Sky News looks at some of the inspiring people who have been awarded gongs.
:: Richard Collins
A teenager who set up an Asperger’s support group when he was 13 is among the people honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
Seventeen-year-old Richard is getting a BEM (British Empire Medal) for services to the community in Cookstown, County Tyrone.
He has Asperger syndrome and started his own support group, Team Aspie, four years ago.
Richard told Sky News: “I’m still in shock. It’s so amazing. Everything I do is for children. Seeing the joy in their faces is the reward and it’s given me purpose.
“It started with three children and now supports 100 families. What we do is for the love of kids.”
Speaking about how he came up with the idea, he said: “I asked mum if there was any group for ‘aspies’ (people with Asperger syndrome). Mum tried to find something but there was nothing that fitted. So we tried to start our own.”
:: Elizabeth and David Carney
The pair receive OBEs for their services to children caught up in domestic abuse.
They established a scheme to ensure the school of any child or young person exposed to, or involved in any police-attended domestic incident, is informed before the child returns to school.
The pair developed the role of “key adult”, volunteers who now support thousands of children affected by domestic abuse.
The scheme is operating in 33 police forces, as well as internationally.
“Our aim has always been to allow the voice of the child who is a victim of domestic violence to be heard and to ensure that they are not left to one side, but put at the forefront of all the authority’s actions,” the couple said.
:: Walter Kammerling and Ernest Simon
A group of Holocaust survivors are also among those honoured.
They include Walter Kammerling, 95, and Ernest Simon, 89, who receive BEMs.
As boys, they left Austria for Britain on the Kindertransport and have shared their stories with 8,200 and 8,000 people respectively through the Holocaust Educational Trust’s outreach programme.
:: Ruzena Levy
The 89-year-old receives a BEM for her work educating children and students about her experience.
Ruzena was torn from her home in Czechoslovakia and sent to Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen during the Holocaust, losing much of her family.
She rebuilt her life in the UK, where she has worked with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust to create a film about her life, shown to over 20,000 students.
:: George Hans Vulkan
Like the others, George Hans Vulkan, 89, receives a BEM for services to Holocaust Education and Remembrance, following his work with the Holocaust Educational Trust and The Association of Jewish Refugees.
He arrived in the UK after fleeing from Vienna with his family at nine years old and has shared his story with over 6,500 people in the past five years – including speaking in German to schoolchildren in Austria.
Karen Pollock MBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “Huge congratulations from all of us to Walter, Gabriele, Ruzena, Ernest, George, Bob and Ann!
“Holocaust survivors are at the heart of what we do and we know their testimonies have a far reaching impact.
“Their determination to relive the most difficult period of their lives in order for future generations to know where hate can ultimately lead is an inspiration to us all.”
Ms Pollock also said all Holocaust survivors in Britain should be recognised by the Queen.
:: Chris Ramsey
The 57-year-old has played and coached in every division of the football league and has been a champion for black and minority ethnic coaches.
He said he hopes his MBE will “open doors for other people”.
His playing career started when racism within football was at its height, in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Ramsey has overcome prejudice from the terraces and society to coach the England National U20s as the first black male to be a national team coach within the professional game.
He also managed Queens Park Rangers’ first team while they were in the Premier League.
(c) Sky News 2019: Queen’s birthday honours: Holocaust survivors and teen Asperger’s pioneer awarded
