Queen's Birthday Honours recipients meet the Mayor
From The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Ken Hawkins on 17 August 2012
The Mayor of Solihull has met with residents of the borough who have recently been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Four Silhillians were invited to meet the Mayor and Mayoress, Ken and Janet Hawkins, in the Mayor’s Parlour of Solihull Council’s Civic Suite.
Christopher Hughes has received an OBE for his services to Pension Protection. Christopher was appointed to the Board of the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) in 2004 as a Director. He has worked to ensure that members of a pension scheme do not lose their pensions if their employer becomes insolvent.
Christopher said of his role as Director: “The job has been intellectually demanding, but extremely stimulating and I believe, very worthwhile. I was honoured to be one of the original members of the Board of the PPF and was doubly honoured to receive the award of the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.”
Michael Evans was awarded his OBE for thirty years of voluntary service to St John’s Ambulance. The various positions he has held within the organisation in the West Midlands include treasurer, chairman, and, most recently, director. He was also made a Commander of the Order of St John in 1992 and has been High Sheriff of the West Midlands.
Beryl Windsor, who has lived in Solihull Lodge for the past ten years, received the newly re-introduced British Empire Medal (BEM), for her services to the Angel Canal Festival in Islington. Having bought a narrow-boat in 1992, Beryl became a regular attendee at the annual one-day festival, which the Regents Canal in London as a community asset. Upon her retirement, she gradually took on more of the running of the Festival and eventually became its main organiser.
Beryl said, “I am thrilled to have been in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, something I never envisaged. My friends and colleagues have been generous in their praise for the work I’ve put in over the last thirteen years. I am pleased for the Festival and feel like it’s a pat on the back for all of us involved. It’s been very nice to meet local dignitaries like the Mayor of Solihull and his wife as well as the other recipients.”
Having been involved with various charities for over fifty years, Michael Leek received his OBE for services to sport for disabled children and the community in Solihull and Birmingham. Amongst other activities, he helped raise £1 million to purchase a scanner for Solihull hospital and has spent the last eleven years at Shirley Golf Club organising golf coaching for disabled children from Solihull and Birmingham special schools.
He said of his work there, “We at Shirley GC have shown how a community-minded club can play its part in giving severely disadvantaged children a chance to take part. Feedback from teachers informs us that their pupils’ motor movement and general demeanour show considerable improvement after their golf sessions.”
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Email: alex.hemming@solihull.gov.uk