King’s Birthday Honours: ‘Inspirational’ civic leader receives damehood
King’s Birthday Honours: ‘Inspirational’ civic leader receives damehood
Trailblazing civic leader and businesswoman Beverly Lindsay has been named a Dame in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Dame Beverly (pictured), a member of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s Chamber Council and Global Chamber committee, is honoured for her services to the West Midlands and charity.
She is among 23 people from the West Midlands to feature in the King’s birthday list – with recipients recognised for contributions to business, health, education, policing, sport and charity.
Beverly arrived in Birmingham from Jamaica in the 1960s to complete her secondary education and worked in nursing, midwifery and the community before setting up her own travel business, Diamond Travel.
She received an OBE in 2011 and became a Deputy Lieutenant in 2013 - serving 10 years, the last three of which she was Vice Lord Lieutenant.
Henrietta Brealey, CEO of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “Dame Beverly’s story is truly inspirational. From arriving in Birmingham from Jamaica as a young woman to becoming one of the region’s most respected civic leaders, she has blazed a trail with determination, grace and an unwavering commitment to helping others.
“Through her entrepreneurial approach, tireless charitable work and decades of service to the West Midlands, Dame Beverly has made an extraordinary contribution to business and civic life.
“We are proud to have her as a valued member of our Chamber Council and Global Chamber committee, and delighted that her outstanding service has been recognised in this way.”
Meanwhile, Professor Monder Ram, also a Deputy Lieutenant, receives a CBE for services to Ethnic Minority Business and Entrepreneurship.
As founder and director at the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) at Aston University, his work has shaped the field over the past three decades, resulting in several social science inspired initiatives that have benefited diverse and overlooked communities.
OBEs have been awarded to Tony Day, principal and CEO of Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College Birmingham, for services to education, and Professor Mohamed Hanif, Professor of Diabetes and Endocrinology at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. for services to Diabetes and to Health Inequalities
Dakshesh Parikh, consultant paediatric surgeon at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, has received an MBE for services to paediatric surgery.
