Inspirational headteacher is rewarded with an OBE

THE headteacher of one of the borough’s best primary schools has been handed a gong in the New Year Honours List.
Mary Gibson, headteacher of Yerbury School in Archway, was given an OBE for her services to education.
Islington Council’s deputy leader, Liberal Democrat councillor Ursula Woolley, whose own children go to Mrs Gibson’s school described her as an “inspirational” leader. She said: “Mary is such a great teacher and I’m really pleased for her. She is an institution and loved by parents, teachers and children alike.”
Others in the award list from Islington included clothes designer, a film director and a penal reformer.
Master tailor Imtaz Khaliq, who has designed for Michelle Pfeiffer gets the MBE, and film director Phyllida Lloyd, who directed the film version of the hit Mamma Mia!, a CBE.
Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform gets the OBE.
They are among about a dozen figures in the list from the borough with backgrounds ranging from computer games to voluntary service and health.
Imtaz, 45, married with two young children from Wilton Square was delighted with her award. “I trained the hard way in Yorkshire and struggled to set myself up with a workshop in in London. This honour means so much to me and I’m very grateful.”
Phyllida Lloyd who brought the top musical Mamma Mia! to the screen was unavailable for comment.
Colleagues of campaigner Frances Crook of the Islington-based Howard League said she would be very pleased with her award. “She has worked in the area of prison reform for many years and deserves this new recognition,” said a colleague.
Other awards went to brothers Oliver Charles Collyer, and Paul Edward Collyer who
co-founded Sports Interactive which is based in Islington. Both were awarded OBEs for services to the computer games industry. They came up with the notoriously addictive Championship Manager series of computer games.
Theresa Coyle, chairwoman of Homes for Islington, gets an MBE for voluntary service to the community.
Helen Anne Dent, chief executive of Family Action who lives in the borough, gets a CBE, for services to children and families.
Carol Dezateux, professor of paediatric epidemiology, at UCL Institute of Child Health, is awarded an OBE for services to science.
PETER GRUNER