A finance guru, the director of a woodlands network and a fundraiser who’s raised more than £1m for a specialist cancer hospital are among the local people who have been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list 2014.

Financial journalist Martin Lewis, who grew up in Norley and founded the consumer information website moneysavingexpert.com in 2003, has been handed an OBE for services to consumer rights and charitable services through the MSE charitable fund.

Dr Julie Madigan, of Northwich, has been made an MBE in recognition of her services to business and the community in the North West.

The chief executive of The Manufacturing Institute has led the charity dedicated to driving up standards of  manufacturing professionalism and engaging the public with the ongoing transformation of UK and global manufacturing for the past 20 years.

Dr Julie Madigan has been awarded an MBE for services to business and the community
Dr Julie Madigan has been awarded an MBE for services to business and the community

Dr Madigan, who is also a founding director of Migrant Workers North West, said: “I am enormously proud to receive this honour and of the Manufacturing Institute's achievements.

“We've educated more than 50,000 manufacturers in best practice, delivered hands-on shop floor improvements at more than 9,000 manufacturing sites and worked with  60,000 children to introduce a next generation of talent to the sector.”

Fellow Northwich resident Mark Stuart Roberts has been given a British Empire Medal for charitable services to cancer care.

Shortly before his wife Elise passed away from skin cancer in 2010, the couple set up an appeal to raise £1m for The Christie hospital.

Mr Roberts reached the massive target in just under three years and has since set up the charity Challenge for Life so he can continue to raise funds for cancer organisations.

He said of his award: "It was completely unexpected, but I'm incredibly proud and delighted to have been recognised in this way."

Dr Hilary Claire Tucker, of Frodsham, has been awarded an OBE for services to public protection and reducing re-offending in recognition of her work as chair of the Greater Manchester Probation Trust (GMPT).

Dr Tucker, who started her career as a primary school teacher, said: “It is a real privilege to receive this award.
“In accepting it I wish to highlight the exemplary support I have received from my fellow board members in GMPT, the outstanding leadership of the management team and the dedication of all our wonderful staff."

Chair of the E-infrastructure Leadership Council Prof Dominic Tildesley, also of Frodsham, has been made a CBE for services to science, technology and business.

Paul Nolan has been awarded an OBE for services to forestry
Paul Nolan has been awarded an OBE for services to forestry

Paul Nolan, the director of environmental organisation The Mersey Forest, which Cheshire West and Chester Council created in partnership with several other local authorities, has received an OBE for services to forestry.

His work has seen almost 2.5million trees planted in Cheshire.

Mr Nolan said: “I’m starting to realise just how many people have been involved in the nomination process – and how well they’ve kept it a secret, including colleagues from Cheshire West and Chester Council!

“I’ve been really lucky to work with some fantastic people to help create The Mersey Forest.

“I am surprised and delighted. It’s great that the work of The Mersey Forest team and partners has been recognised in this way.”

Chester’s Richard Coackley, director of energy development, environment and natural resources at URS, has received an CBE for services to civil engineering.

Frederick James Pritchard, also of Chester, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for more than 20 years of service to the British community in Dukhan Township, Qatar.