Aukje Clegg, head of the young persons’ centre at Wigan’s Westfield school has been awarded an OBE for services to children, schools and families.
What makes it unusual is that Aukje has retained her Dutch nationality and it is rare for a non-commonwealth foreign national to receive an honour.
In 1967 at the age of 23 she left her native Friesland to follow her husband Alan Clegg, a young RAF serviceman from Stockport, back to England.
Alan left the RAF and embarked on a career as a teacher that would eventually lead to him becoming head of Pemberton high school in Wigan.
Said Aukje: “I’m so glad we came here and it has been a wonderful period of my life.”
Well known across Wigan, Aukje ran ‘Mrs. Clegg’s Crèche’ at Pemberton for fourteen years before becoming head of the Young Person’s Centre when it was set up 10 years ago to offer affordable child care, holiday and after-school play.
In 2006 it became part of the new Westfield ‘extended’ school, but is still referred to as “Mrs. Clegg’s” by many parents who attended the crèche when they were younger.
She said: “When I got the letter I was amazed and overwhelmed. An OBE for doing what I have loved doing? I cried, I couldn’t believe it.
“But I am delighted to receive this honour and it could not have come at a more opportune moment, as the Young Person’s Centre is 10 years old.”
Maggie Coghlin, Chair of Governors at Westfield, said: “But for her efforts, many parents would not have been able to get a job or training and would not have been able to provide a better start for their children.”
