Salvation Army hostel manager receives MBE

The manager of a Salvation Army hostel has received an MBE for his services to the homeless.

Tony Thornton has dedicated the last 16 years to working with homeless men at Tom Raine Court in Darlington, where his own family home forms part of the 30-bed hostel.

The 48-year-old joined Tom Raine Court in 1991 as a project worker, and went on to assume a number of roles over the year, including senior project worker, assistant manager and deputy manager. He became centre manager six years ago.

During his years at the hostel, Mr Thornton has helped thousands of men move on to permanent homes of their own through the hostel’s comprehensive resettlement programme.

Mr Thornton, a practising Roman Catholic, said he was “very humbled” to receive the MBE in the New Year's Honours List.

“We are all close to homelessness - we see many people who for many reasons end in homelessness - marriage breakdown, debt, credit crunch, addictions, it could be any of us at any time,” he said.

He paid tribute to the staff at Tom Raine Court, saying that without them the hostel “would not be the centre of excellence it is today”.

“It is always about team work,” he said.

Mr Thornton was joined on the New Year’s Honours List by the Chair of Christian Aid and prison inspector Anne Owers, who was made a dame in recognition of her services to criminal justice.