Four residents in the island have spoken about being given recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours.

Lesley Turnbull, who becomes an MBE, set up her Wish Upon a Dream charity in memory of her daughter Lauren who died. She describes Lauren as her ’driving force’.

The charity, which grants wishes to terminally or seriously ill children, first became active 10 years ago.

Mrs Turnbull said the whole thing had come as a bit of a shock.

’I only found out fairly recently,’ she said.

’I didn’t really believe it until it came out in the London Gazette. Although I did know, you are sworn to secrecy and I was still half and half as to whether I really believed it.’

There will be a reception held by the Lieutenant Governor in the Isle of Man, she said, followed by some sort of official presentation.

’Really the award is for something that I do as a passion and in memory of my daughter, so I am humbled and in shock.’

Mrs Turnbull said since the award was made public she had been overwhelmed by people’s messages and good wishes.

’It means so much to me, but I am still thinking ’’why me?’’,’ she said.

Mrs Turnbull also set up a second charity called Remember Me, which grants wishes to seriously ill parents.

’At times it can be heartbreakingly sad, but that comes with the territory,’ she said.

’We don’t go to the papers a lot because it can be such a sensitive and private matter.’

Wing Commander Pheric Thrussell is awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the Isle of Man Cadet Forces. He joined the Air Training Corps (ATC) as a civilian instructor in 1977 and assumed command of 440 (1st Manx) Squadron in 1982.

He took the ATC from a small group of one adult and 10 cadets to become one of the biggest squadrons in the ATC, with over 100 cadets and 18 staff spread across the island. In addition, he leads the Combined Cadet Force contingent which is a joint unit between King William’s College and Castle Rushen High School.

For over 20 years he has also been a vocational qualification officer helping many to achieve formal qualifications.

’I’m very honoured about it. To be honest, it’s not what you expect in the work that we do,’ he said.

’They let me now about it about five weeks ago when the nominations were through. It was certainly a surprise.

’We do a lot of work with the cadet forces so it was a great thrill to receive it.’

He said the British Empire Medal is locally nominated and the award is made by the island’s Lieutenant Governor.

’We do get to go to a Buckingham Palace garden party though,’ he said

’But working with the young people is reward in itself. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it over the past 40 years.’

Roger W. Smith, formerly a protege of George Daniels, makes exclusive wristwatches. He receives an OBE for outstanding services to British watchmaking.

He is the world leader in his field. He designed and made his first watch by hand when still a student. At 22, he was the youngest person ever to do so.

’It was a shock to receive the call from the Lieutenant Governor about six weeks ago,’ he said.

’He asked me if I would accept it. It was wonderful but very hard to keep secret.’

Mr Smith works with a team of eight people in the north of the island. They produce around 10 exclusive hand made watches each year, building cases, faces and movements all from scratch, with costs for the finished products starting at about £100,000.

’It’s very labour-intensive work,’ he said.

Also honoured is Voirrey Heaton from Peel, who receives an MBE for services to equality and patients’ rights. She works as an equality and human rights adviser.