Former Solihull Chamber president receives posthumous honour

John Callaghan, the former Solihull Chamber president who died last week at the age of 61, was honoured posthumously at the Chamber 's annual awards.

Mr Callaghan, who served as president from 2015 to 2017, passed away a few weeks after stepping back from professional commitments due to a terminal illness.

Current president Tony Elvin paid tribute to his predecessor in an emotional speech at the Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel and Country Club.

He also announced the former Solihull College and University Centre principal as the recipient of the 2021 President 's Award, which was collected his colleague, deputy principal Lindsey Stewart.

Mr Elvin said: “When we learned of John 's illness last month, and his immediate retirement, we knew that we wanted to bestow the honour of this year 's President 's Award to John, to thank him for his service to education, to the Chamber, to Solihull and beyond.

“It was with great sadness that we learned of John 's passing less than a week ago. Our hearts go out to John 's family, friends and colleagues.

“As you can imagine tributes for John have been pouring in from those across our community. Recurring themes naturally talk about the huge respect we all had for John, for his dedication, his enthusiasm, his kindness and of course for his straight talking.

“Tributes talk about the impact that John had on all of those around him. In the business community, in education and to the students at Solihull College.

“We will all miss John in our own personal way, whether that is as a colleague, peer, mentor, father, husband or friend.

“We are devastated as a community to be losing someone so special but are grateful to have known John.

“We will do our best to uphold his values and are proud to honour him and his far-reaching achievements through the President 's Award. ”