Essex’s finest named in New Year Honours

Christopher Charles Hebden, chairman for Southend Mencap, was appointed an MBE for his services for people living with a disability.

Dave Christopher Hill, director for social care and education at Essex County Council, was appointed an OBE.

Phyllis Martha Kathleen Reeve will receive a British Empire Medal for her services to Basildon Hospital.

Robert Telford Tinlin, former chief executive of Southend Council, was appointed an MBE, for his contributions to local government.

Holocaust survivor honoured with MBE

A Holocaust survivor was delighted to receive a phone call informing him that he is on this year’s Honours List.

Leslie Kleinman, 88, from Westcliff, said he received a call on December 19 where he was told he was being recognised for his contributions and services to Holocaust education across Essex.

He said: “I was very surprised when I received the phone call.

“I have been involved in Holocaust education for more than 20 years. I’ve delivered many talks and speeches to schools across Essex.”

Mr Kleinman is a survivor of the notorious Auschwitz death camp and two death marches to Oranienburg and Dachau.

When the Russians drew closer to the camp in January 1945 survivors were taken on a “death march” through snow-covered forests wearing only pyjamas.

Although many had died, Mr Kleinman managed to survive and afterwards he has dedicated his life to ensuring the next generation has heard his harrowing story – and most importantly his message of love, not hate.

He said: “I tell the truth when I speak. I do everything possible to try to teach these youngsters to be tolerant. We are all the same in the end.

“I always get questions from students asking me if I hated the Germans. I said I don’t hate them, because at the end we are all human beings. We cry and we want the same things. And I try to pass this message on to the new generation.”

Born in Romania, Mr Kleinman was just 14 years old when he boarded one of the trains to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp in German-occupied Poland in 1944.

As a teenager, who had spent his young life growing up in the village of Ombod in Romania, he was judged strong enough to work by the Nazi doctor Josef Mengele – who was known as the Angel of Death.

He had pretended he was 17 years old after being warned by other workers and was told to stand in the queue on the right – a lie which saved his life.

He was separated from his 35-year-old mother Rachel, his sisters Gitta, 15, Olga, nine, Shandi, seven and Sarah, five, along with his brothers Herman, 12, Abraham four, and, lastly, little Moses, two.

Out of 60 members of his extended family who were sent to Auschwitz, Mr Kleinman and only two others survived.

He said: “I lost all of my family and even though it was 73 years ago, I still remember them. When I was inside the camp I knew somehow God was with me. If you believe in God there’s hope.”

Mr Kleinman, who has pledged to tell the truth to the schoolchildren he meets, has explained to the youngsters how his family were pleased to be having a shower after getting out of the filthy train carriage, where they were packed in with 100 other people.

But they had not idea that the shower block was in fact a gas chamber and they would all die before the sun set.

Mr Kleinman had watched the Nazis dragged his father, a rabbi, away from them. They beat him and shaved off his beard. It was believed he died three weeks after he was taken away.

He has also been a guest speaker on Holocaust Memorial Day to highlight the tragedies that occur during war.

He said: “I visit schools talking about my experiences in the concentration camp. My mission is to pass a message to the future generations how hatred and intolerance can lead to such horrors.”

Phyllis’ 40 years of service rewarded

A VOLUNTEER who has worked closely with Basildon Hospital for many years will be commended in 2018’s new year honours.

Phyllis Reeve, from Benfleet, will receive a British Empire Medal for services to Basildon Hospital for the past 40 years.

She volunteers for the Basildon Hospital Community League of Friends, which has raised millions of pounds to help support the hospital. They supply snack and tea bars that are manned completely by volunteer staff from Monday to Friday.

Mrs Reeve is one of a host of people from south Essex who have received honours in the New Year list. Following the announcement of Mrs Reeve’s commendation, Dawn Patience, director of nursing, said: “On behalf of the trust, I would like to send our congratulations to Phyllis for this exceptional award for her dedication over the past four decades.

“We are indebted to our volunteers, who work in areas all across our hospitals and give their free time to help our patients.

“We have a very special relationship with the League of Friends, who as well as running several tea bars donate considerable amounts of money to wards and departments to help enhance patient services.”

The League of Friends started in the 1960s when a notice appeared at the junction of Dry Street and Lee Woottons Lane announcing plans for a new hospital in Basildon.

Since the hospital opened in 1973, The League of Friends have always been there supporting it.

When the hospital first opened, the charity raised funds to help pay for colour televisions, Christmas lights and decorations, play pens, flower troughs, toys, games and a hairdryer for the maternity unit.

Three years later, the League of Friends raised the funds for the hospital to have a new operating theatre where surgeons wore special suits in an enclosed area so the risk of airborne infections was reduced.

Throughout the years, its tea bars have been incredibly profitable, which has aided the group in raising more money to continue benefitting the hospital.

In September 2017, a £42,000 donation from the group helped pay for a new ultrasound scanner for expectant mothers at the hospital.

Mrs Reeve’s long service will be rewarded in the New Year.

MBE for chairman

A DEDICATED charity worker has been recognised with an MBE for decades of service to disability charities.

Chris Hebden, from Westcliff, has been volunteering for Southend Mencap since 1968 when he started helping his mother at the age of 20.

Now aged 68, he has been chairman of the charity for 13 years and has seen the organisation help fund and deliver impressive projects including the £1.3 million respite centre behind St Christopher’s School in Mountdale Gardens.

Mr Hebden, who is also vicechair of Essex Mencap, said: “It was a complete surprise.

“A letter arrived and I had to read it twice because I couldn’t believe it.

“People at Southend Mencap had put me forward for it but had kept it a secret.

“It’s absolutely great and a real honour to be recognised in this way.”

Southend Mencap’s main aim is to serve the interests and needs of children and adults with learning disabilities, as well as those of their parents and carers.

He said: “We take people out just to see them enjoying themselves is reward enough.”

CBE for Dave Hill

ESSEX County Council’s director of social care and education, Dave Hill, has been appointed a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2018 New Year Honours List.

Mr Hill, who has been working within local authorities since 1977 will receive the CBE for his services to children’s social care.

Upon receiving the news of the award, Mr Hill said: “This is a tremendous honour and I am absolutely delighted.

“It is a wonderful thing to be recognised for the professional contribution you’ve made and the positive impact you’ve had on the careers and lives of others.

“It was certainly an emotional moment for myself and my family when the letter telling me the news arrived, and one I’ll never forget.”

David Finch, leader of Essex County Council, paid tribute to Mr Hill after the news of his CBE was announced.

He said: “Dave’s leadership and stewardship of two of the most important roles in public services – keeping vulnerable children and adults safe – has been inspirational. On behalf of all members here, I offer him our warmest congratulations.”

Former chief exec honoured

SOUTHEND Council’s former chief executive will receive an MBE as part of the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

Rob Tinlin, who stepped down from his position at the council in March in order to retire, took up the post in 2005.

With 12 years as chief executive, he led a distinguished career in local government spanning 40 years.

His time at Southend Council was deemed a huge success, as he oversaw a major transformation of the local authority.

That transformation saw the council named LGC Council of the Year in 2012, and winning Senior Leadership Team of the Year at the MJ Achievement Awards earlier this year.

Upon his retirement, he said the borough had rediscovered its mojo in recent years, citing key projects moving forward, such as the Queensway development, Airport Business Park Southend and the Museum of the Thames Estuary.

These plans come despite the backdrop of central Government funding cuts for local authorities including Southend, with the borough’s main Government grant falling by nearly a third this year.

He claimed that not one service had been stopped during his 12 years at the helm, despite making what he estimates to be £120million worth of savings.

Mr Tinlin said: “In all honesty, I was amazed and delighted to hear that I was going to get an MBE.

“It is one of those that comes completely out of blue and takes you back a bit, but you have to say yes of course.

“I look back at my time in Southend very highly, and with the greatest fondness.

“Receiving the MBE will be of great personal pride but it reflects so highly on the team that I had around me, many of whom are still in place.

“I could not take all the credit, the team at the Civic Centre are truly phenomenal, they are dedicated and strive for the success of Southend.

“And you can see that success in the continuity since I left the council, where it has continued to thrive.

“I am spectacularly proud, and will remain spectacularly proud of the time I spent in Southend, and although I may have moved closer to my routes in Scotland, I am proud to be an honorary citizen.

“I still follow all developments in Southend with great pride and interest.”