A BLIND veteran of the stage and a church organist are among the people rewarded in the New Year's Honours List.

Eileen Lloyd, who together with husband Ken, has been a fixture of the local amateur dramatic and operatic scene for decades, has been made an MBE for services to drama and the blind.

Even after going blind in 1989 Eileen, of Juno Street, Nelson, continued to take a leading role in productions.

In 1997 she and Ken wrote and directed the show Spellbound, which followed the tale of the Pendle Witches.

Eileen's career on stage began as a five-year-old. Eileen, who declines to say how old she is but describes herself as "a senior citizen", has acted, directed and produced ever since then.

She turned down roles in the films The Railway Children and Wuthering Heights, putting her young family first, but played a leading role in local companies.

She was three times chairman of the Pendle Civic Players, recently re-named the Borderline Theatre Company, and a leading member of the former Freelance Operatic Society.

On losing her sight, Eileen turned her hand to recording tapes of home-made theatre productions for the blind, particularly children.

She is currently working on her next production, a murder story set to music called Suspect which will be staged later in 2000. "Ken has to read out all my letters to me so when he started saying I had one from the Prime Minister I thought he was joking at first," said Eileen.

"It started 'Dear Madam' and nobody calls me madam so I thought he was having me on."

James Haworth, a life member of Rossendale Organists Association who has been president of the group three times and honorary treasurer since 1957 becomes an MBE for services to music in Rossendale.

Mr Haworth, 75, of Church Street, Newchurch-in- Rossendale, has been organist at St Nicholas with St John Church, Newchurch, for 52 years.

He joined the church in 1942 and has been a member ever since, holding the additional role of choir master for more than 40 years.

"I do a little tutoring and I always tell my pupils that they will thank me one day for making them practice," said Mr Haworth. "Obviously someone out there has done just that."

An Asian community leader and businessman has been awarded one of the country's most coveted honours and a seat in the House of Lords.

Adam Patel, 59, is one of only six new Life Peers - along with famous names including Sir Leon Brittan and BBC boss Sir John Birt. The father-of-eight, of Snodworth Hall, Langho, said he can't wait to take his seat as Lord Patel of Blackburn.

He was born in India, came to Blackburn in 1965 and is a founder chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques.

Les Ratcliffe, president of the East Lancashire Railway Society, which runs the line between Rawtenstall and Bury, is made an MBE for services to the community.

Mr Ratcliffe is chairman of the Bury-based specialist dairy supplies firm Dunster Farm and president of Bury Hospice.

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