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By Deborah Carl
English LDS Man Awarded Order of the British Empire
BLACKBURN, ENGLAND -- Brian Holliday of the Blackburn Ward, Preston England
Stake, has been recognized in the Queen's Birthday Honors List as a Member
of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). The award, the second highest of
the Order of the British Empire, is for his services to people with
disabilities.
At age 16 Brother Holliday was seriously injured in a traffic accident while
riding his bike. He spent three months in a coma and his doctors did not
think he would ever be able to work. He managed to find employment as a
laborer, but at age 20, he started having frequent epileptic seizures. A
brain scan revealed a "bruise" on the brain that had not healed from the
bicycle accident, but there was still a chance it would heal. With
medication to alleviate the symptoms, the seizures ended when he was 36.
Right about that time he began to work as a laborer with Remploy, a
government-sponsored employer of the disabled.
The following year he was appointed as the works union representative and he
embarked on a side-line career promoting the rights of people with
disabilities. He has traveled around the country speaking at conferences on
the protection of the disabled against discrimination in the workplace. He
also became a supervisor at Remploy and now trains others with disabilities
to work to their capacity. Remploy trains unemployed men and women with all
levels of disabilities in a 12-month program and then the company and the
union find the successful trainees permanent outside employment. Even after
they leave Remploy, the union continues to help them achieve happy,
fulfilled lives. Brother Holliday also serves as a governor of a state-run
school for children with disabilities.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Brother Holliday also
serves in the ward. He previously served as a stake missionary, ward mission
leader, executive secretary, and is now serving as a Valiant teacher in
Primary. Brother Holliday is married to the former Sandra Lane and they have
two children, Gareth, 16, and Kenneth, 13. The family were taught by
missionaries and joined the Church in 1988.
As for being a Member of the British Empire and displaying the initials
"MBE" after his name, Brother Holliday said it will not change him. "I will
just keep on doing the same things." On November 16, Brother Holliday will
travel to Buckingham Palace to receivehis award from the queen or another
member of the royal family.
Source:
Queen to honor advocate for the disabled
LDS Church News 11Aug01 P2
By David M. W. Pickup: Church News correspondent
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