Geraldine Allinson awarded OBE

Radiocentre Board member Geraldine Allinson has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to local media in Kent.

Geraldine was executive Chairman of the KM Media Group, which serves the people and communities of Kent through radio station kmfm as well as local newspapers, KentOnline, KMTV and social media, for 13 years. She became director for Iliffe Media Group Ltd (the parent company of KM) last year.

Speaking to KentOnline, Geraldine said: “It is very difficult to describe how honoured I feel to receive this recognition. Even now I am close to tears thinking about it – I don’t think it has really sunk in yet. Throughout my career I have been very lucky to work with extremely talented people who genuinely care about what they do and the local communities they serve, particularly here in Kent. I really hope that all my colleagues, past and present, see that this honour is recognition for the very rewarding and, at times, extremely difficult work we have all carried out together.”

Siobhan Kenny, Radiocentre CEO, said: “All Geraldine’s friends across the radio industry welcome this recognition of her enormous contribution to our industry over many years. And at Radiocentre, we are especially delighted to welcome this honour for a highly regarded member of our Board.”

In addition to her work at Iliffe Media Group and Radiocentre, Geraldine is a director of the News Media Association, representing local news media at national level. She also works with Kent-based organisations like Safer Kent, Acorns Read and Grow, the Medway Place Board, the Canterbury and District Recorder (newspapers for the blind), Chatham Historic Dockyard and the Heart of Kent Hospice in various roles to help them achieve their aims – activities range from support and fundraising to a full trustee role.  

Geraldine is a Non-Executive Director of the PA Group, as well as a Kent Ambassador with Kent County Council and a Deputy Lieutenant for Kent.