A Fermanagh man who attended Portora Royal School and who is now a councillor in Co. Antrim has been awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to local government.
Councillor Thomas Hogg (right) represents the District Electoral Area of Macedon on Antrim and Newtownabbey Council.
He has just recently completed a year as Mayor of the Council, the first of the new “super council” and was also Mayor of Newtownabbey Borough Council during 2014/15.
He was first elected a councillor representing the DUP in 2011 and re-elected in 2014.
Thomas told The Impartial Reporter this week: “I was absolutely astonished when I received a letter in late April stating that the Prime Minister was recommending to the Queen that she appoint me an MBE. This is not something I ever contemplated or imagined, but I am nonetheless very honoured and humbled. 
“I hope it is recognition of the success of the merger of Antrim and Newtownabbey. This would not have been possible without the leadership of our elected members and the hard work of our staff. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as Mayor at this important juncture.”
The new Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor John Scott who succeeded Councillor Hogg recently, stated: “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Councillor Thomas Hogg on this fantastic achievement. Thomas was Mayor for the final year of Newtownabbey Borough Council and also guided Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council in the first year of amalgamation. This is a proud moment for Thomas as it recognises the hard work and commitment he has had to Local Government and I wish him all the best in his future career”.