A SPORTS enthusiast from Macclesfield is all set for a royal match of the day at Buckingham Palace.
Dedicated Alison Odell, 55, of Sandy Lane, has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for her services to sport.
Ally - as she is known to most - is the life vice-president of the British Universities Sports Association, the governing body for university sport in the UK, and cracked open the champagne when she found she had been given the prestigious title.
"This is quite special, I am over the moon," said Ally, who is also a hot air balloon pilot.
Delighted Ally, who is Director of Sport at the University of Manchester where she manages all aspects of sports provision, said: "I have had so many texts and emails of congratulations, the phone has not stopped."
Based in London, she has been a volunteer at BUSA for more than 30 years, since she was a student, and was awarded life vice-presidency after 25 years service.
Ally studied French at Birmingham University and was chairman of her athletics union.
She played badminton for Cheshire veterans until two years ago and has been a member of Macclesfield Badminton Club since 1975.
She said: "One thing that always struck me was the amount I got out of sport, how it enlarges life on a social and physical level. It brings a whole other side to what it means to being a student, and being part of a team.Another thing that drives me is continuing to put young people out on the sports field, combining academic and sporting opportunities gives you a huge start in life."
Ally moved to Macclesfield in 1979 and worked her way up from sports administrator becoming Director of Sport in 1998.
Other posts held in the voluntary sector include chairman of BUSA from 1996-2000, chairman of University and College Sport from 2001-2003 and member of the World University Executive Committee since 1999.
She said: "What has pushed me into CBE level I think is that I am a member of the governing body for world university sports."
Ally travels to university winter and summer games and is off to Bangkok in August with more than 10,000 athletes. "On the day the honours were announced my friend rushed out to buy a newspaper and we cracked open the champagne. With all the celebrations coming up I think I'll need a case of champagne," she added.
FORMER tough-talking magistrate Audrey "Hang 'em" Walsh has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday honours list.
Audrey, 79, who lives in Over Alderley, earned the nickname after her no-nonsense approach to criminal while she sat on the bench at Stockport magistrates court for almost 30 years.
The retired JP, who was appointed in 1969, was awarded the accolade for services to the community,
For although she also said goodbye to years of service in various community roles, including working with the GMP, as she stood down from the judiciary she carried on helping.
She continued to serve teas at Stepping Hill Hospital, and spend one day a week working in a WRVS shop.
Audrey, who is enjoying time with her three children and five grandchildren, said on her retirement in 1998: "I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to serve on the bench and I have endeavoured to be firm but fair." Simon Dodgshon, head of Legal Services at Stockport Magistrates' Court, said: "Mrs Walsh made a huge contribution to public life, and in particular to the work of the court.
"I am aware that Mrs Walsh contributed in many other ways to the local community, including membership of the Greater Manchester Police Authority.
"During her time on the bench, Audrey Walsh was chairman of the Magistrates' Courts Committee and also chairman of the bench.
"As chairman of the MCC she successfully led the court through many changes and initiatives within the criminal justice system."
FORMER backstage "boy" Leo Donnelly reluctantly took the limelight this week after being awarded an MBE for services to the community in this week's Queen's Birthday Honours.
For the sprightly pensioner, who was an able and dedicated volunteer with local theatre groups, MADS and The Majestic, for years, preferred to modestly work in the wings than being centre stage.
But this week he couldn't avoid it as news of his accolade hit the streets. And it was his prerogative to take a bow.
Although he is supremely proud of his sons, amateur actor Stephen, 52, and professional star Chris, 42 - who has appeared in all manner of productions including a cameo role as as baddie in Eastenders - it is their turn to feel proud of him.
Leo, a former supervisor at textile company Ernest Scragg and sons, may be retired but he isn't one for the fire and slippers just yet. He is a coach with St Edward's football team and is closely affiliated to the church and runs the elderly around in a minibus.
Stephen of Haworth Close, Macclesfield, said: "Suffice to say that he is well into his seventies now but still runs a junior football team, and drives a mini-bus for a local elderly residents home."
Leo is also an active member of St Edward's ROC church and a founder member of the St Vincent de Paul charity which provides transport and help to the elderly community. He has also helped at MADS and MMTG in a backstage capacity, in addition to still doing a couple of part-time jobs.
Grandfather-of-six Leo and his wife, Irene, also have a daughter Michelle, 44.
Referring to his honour, he said: "The family is all over the moon - it is unbelievable."
FRIEND to the royals, entrepreneur and a romantic novelist - now one of Gawsworth's favourite sons can add an OBE to his illustrious achievements.
Dad-of-one, John Richards, 67, of Gawsworth Court, a former High Sheriff of Cheshire has been given the honour for his charity work.
The widower, whose wife Helena died in 2005 aged 62, organised the first Macclesfield half marathon which generated thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Care and was in charge of a fun run in Gawsworth to help out the local church and school.
In his private life John's passion for horses and four-in-hand carriage driving - for which he has won several international championships - gained him exclusive access to the royal enclosure and he counts fellow carriage driving enthusiast Prince Philip among his friends.
His publishing company produced the Prince's book on the subject and, in the mid Nineties, he took the Royal Windsor Horse Show to Hollywood wowing film stars Michael Douglas and Bo Derek.
The son of tea and coffee tycoon, Raymond Richards, John studied geography at Oxford University before marrying Helena in 1968.
She was the daughter of a Russian countess who fled from the Bolsheviks' grip during the Russian Revolution - a background which inspired John to pen his novel, The Gods of Fortune - an epic romance set in St Petersburg, England and America.
EXECUTIVE director at AstraZeneca Dr John Patterson has been awarded a CBE in this week's Queen's Birthday Honours.
John, 59, responsible for development at AstraZeneca, who lives in Nether Alderley, was rewarded for services to the pharmaceutical industry.
Married to a fellow doctor who works as a GP in an East Cheshire medical practice, John and his wife have two grown up daughters.
He qualified as a medical doctor in 1971 at Manchester School of Medicine, obtaining membership (now fellowship) of the Royal College of Physicians in 1974.
His career in pharmaceuticals at ICI, Zeneca and AstraZeneca spans 32 years starting in 1975 when he joined the company as a medical adviser in the clinical research department. He went on to join the pharmaceuticals business board as medical director in 1990, following senior roles in the UK, USA and Germany.
In 1994, John took on responsibility for the European business operations of Zeneca Pharmaceuticals and a year later became Territorial Director, when all non-US businesses were added to his portfolio. Following the AstraZeneca merger, as executive vice president of product strategy and licensing, John became responsible for the company's global marketing across all brands
