A community stalwart who has been involved with charities and environmental campaigning in Hackney for more than two decades has picked up a gong for his dedication to the greater good of society.

Crispin Truman, of Lavers Road, Stoke Newington, was awarded his OBE in the 2017 New Year honours List for services to heritage and charitable foundations.

As chief executive of The Churches Conservation Trust he has overseen the restoration and regeneration of many historic buildings at risk. He is also a council member for The Future for Religious Heritage – a European network saving historic places of worship.

Having lived in Stoke Newington for 23 years, he is now chair of governors at Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form where two of his three sons are pupils. Crispin also chaired the London Cycling Campaign in the late 90s and was an active member of Hackney Cycling Campaign for many years, was trustee of The Hackney Building Exploratory from 2005 to 2012 and of the Hackney based ‘Health Action for Homeless People’ in the mid-90s. He also chaired the Hackney Local Agenda 21 Transport Group from 1996 to 1999 and stood for Mayor of Hackney for the Green Party in 2002.

He told the Gazette: “I’d like to think the OBE reflects the work I’ve done for charities and my wider work. Being a school governor is an example where I hope I make a contribution over and above what I’m paid to do. Everyone gets paid to do their job and does it well, but for me it’s important to put time and effort into your community, in London and in Hackney.”

Crispin has helped bring many churches “back to life” during his 13 years at the Conservation Trust, thanks to his passion for retaining community resources.

He added: “A lot of areas are losing shops and pubs, train and bus services, and churches are often the last community building left so to keep them open to the public is really important. They are an important part of our history and landscape and many are really beautiful.”

“The Trust was very old fashioned when I arrived. We had some beautiful churches but it was about preserving them in aspic. What we’ve really done is put them back in the community and encourage people see them as an important resource they can make use of.”

Meanwhile, stalwarts of Hackney Empire’s panto, Clive Rowe and Sharon D Clarke have also been awarded MBEs in the New Year’s Honours list. The pair have both been part of the cast since the panto started 17 years ago, with Rowe playing the Dame in many Empire productions including last year’s Jack and the Beanstalk, and Clarke starring as the ‘baddie’ in this season’s panto, Sleeping Beauty.