Popular Pat Ealey made an MBE (From Kingston Guardian)

Popular Pat Ealey of Richmond Park's Holly Lodge made an MBE

7:20am Wednesday 4th January 2012 in News By Christine Fleming

Becoming an MBE after 19 years helping at Richmond Park’s Holly Lodge centre has been the icing on the cake of a fulfilling career change for project director Patricia Ealey.

Dr Ealey, 59, of South Ealing, was named on the 2012 Queen’s New Year’s honours list for her work with Holly Lodge, and for with her work with people with special needs in Richmond and Ealing.

She said: “It was very exciting when I found out. They do tell you about five weeks before and you have to say if you want to accept or not, but it was a surprise.”

Dr Ealey became involved with Holly Lodge, a hands-on educational facility for people of all ages and abilities, in the centre of the Royal park, after deciding on a career change nearly 20 years ago.

She said: “I was doing medical research at Middlesex hospital then had a career change and did a course in heritage interpretation at St Mary’s, in Twickenham, that led me to come here [to Holly Lodge] on a six-week placement.

“The park manager had an idea about setting up a centre for people of all abilities so I came along and never left.

“It doesn’t feel as though I have been here that long at all.”

And Dr Ealey, who will be celebrating her MBE and her 60th birthday next month, is clearly passionate about the career that led her to such a prestigious honour.

She said: “I’m always doing lots of different things at once so you kind of get used to it but obviously I get a lot of support from the 90 volunteers we have here.

“The best thing is seeing the response and the benefits that people [with special needs] get from being here.”