A longstanding member of the Board of Governors of three county Armagh schools has spoken of his “surprise” at being awarded an MBE in King Charles’s Birthday Honours list for his services to education in Portadown.
For almost 30 years, Norman ‘Marshall’ Allen has been a Transferor Representative on behalf of the Methodist Church on the Board of Governors at his first posting, Cope Primary School in Loughgall.
Since then, the fully accredited local preacher – who for 35 years has been a regular stand-in for ministers of Thomas Street Methodist Church – has also joined the Board of Governors for Craigavon Senior High School (a post he’s held for 27 years) and Clounagh High School for the last six years.
The role of a Transferor Representative, Marshall explains, goes back to the formation of government in Northern Ireland in 1927, when the education of children was mostly carried out by religious bodies. When the government was formed, part of the criteria for the provision of education was that churches would have representation on school Boards of Governors, ensured through the position of Transferor Representatives.
Marshall says he has been with Cope Primary School and Craigavon Senior High School “non-stop” since his appointment to the board – a position he holds, like all Board of Governors members, on an entirely voluntary basis.
He went on to be appointed as Chairman of the Board of Governors for Cope Primary School in 2015 and for Craigavon Senior High School in 2016.
His responsibility as Chairman is one that he regards as “an important one”, overseeing all board meetings, the appointment of new teachers, senior leadership teams and Principals through staffing committees, and countless additional responsibilities.
Despite his many years of unpaid service, Marshall said the announcement that he would be receiving an MBE came as a complete “surprise”.
Speaking to Armagh I, he said: “I was surprised. It hadn’t really occurred to me. Since it has become public, I’ve been even more surprised by the number of people who have congratulated me.”
Of his role as Transferor Representative, he said: “I go on as a Transferor Representative because I believe that the Church needs to keep contact with the education of our children and bring a Christian ethos into their education – and it’s nice to be involved with it right through from primary to junior high and into senior high.
“I enjoy the work, and it’s lovely to see how schools progress and develop. It’s lovely to be a part of that.
“It’s recognition of the valuable, unpaid work that governors do. I am only a part of a team of governors that support the management and ethos of schools.”
Sharing their delight, Craigavon Senior High School paid tribute to their esteemed Chairman of the Board of Governors, adding: “We are absolutely delighted to share some incredibly exciting news!
“Our esteemed Chair of Governors, Mr Marshall Allen, has been named in King Charles’s Birthday Honours List to receive an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his outstanding service to education!
“This is truly a well-deserved recognition of Mr Allen’s tireless dedication, passion, and invaluable contributions to the education of young people across County Armagh.
“His commitment has profoundly impacted countless lives and helped shape our school community positively.
“Please join us in extending our warmest congratulations to Mr Allen on this remarkable achievement! We are incredibly proud to have him lead our Board of Governors.”
