City leaders among Queen’s Birthday Honours

By
Ben Brown
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2172
Aldgate councillor Dhruv Patel

The City of London Corporation has a new ‘Magnificent Seven’ after the Queen honoured some of the local authority’s leading lights in her Birthday Honours List.

Strategic director of education, skills and culture Anne Bamford; Cripplegate councillor Vivienne Littlechild; community figurehead Janie Ewing; and Ruth Duston, who is executive director of the Cheapside Business Improvement District, were among those recognised in a list that for the first time names more female than male recipients.

Alongside councillors Dhruv Patel (pictured above) and Thomas Hoffman, and community champion Matthew Ring, they have been recognised for their contributions to education, children’s services, the community, and social cohesion.

And the magnitude of being included on the historic list has not been lost on the deserving recipients. Ms Littlechild said she was “immensely pleased to be honoured in this way”.

“I’ve been an elected member of the Corporation for a number of years now, and it’s been an unbelievable experience chairing the culture, heritage and libraries committee, and working at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and other charitable schemes that the City supports.”

Professor Bamford added that she was “delighted to receive this honour”.

“High quality education has the power to change the lives of people from all backgrounds. We should strive to ensure all children are able to experience a well-rounded education that enables them to be creative, to be happy and to flourish.”

They join a host of high-profile recipients recognised for their contributions across government, the arts, medicine and science, as well as acts of bravery at a national and local level.

Those honoured with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire included Network Rail boss Mark Carne and actor Tom Hardy. Premier League and England striker Jermain Defoe and boxer Anthony Joshua were made Officers of the Order of the British Empire, while actress Emma Thompson was made a dame, and former Met Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley was knighted.

Dhruv Patel: OBE

Dhruv Patel has been an elected member of the City Corporation for five years, and has held positions including chairman of the community and children’s services committee, director of the City of London Academies Trust, and deputy chairman of City Bridge Trust.

Professor Anne Bamford: OBE

The local authority’s strategic director of education, skills and culture has been awarded an OBE for services to education.

Before joining the City Corporation Anne was director of education for the Archdiocese of Southwark, and has worked across the world as a scholar for UNESCO.

Thomas Hoffman: MBE

Vintry councillor Thomas Hoffman has represented constituents on everything from the Barbican Centre board to the port health and environmental services committee, and has been honoured for services to secondary and tertiary education, as well as his enduring commitment to supporting the arts in London.

Vivienne Littlechild JP: MBE

A lawyer in the Square Mile for more than three decades, Vivienne Littlechild has been recognised for services to culture and heritage in the Square Mile while representing the Cripplegate ward.

Janie Ewing: BEM

Janie Ewing, who works at City of London Academy Galleywall Primary, has been recognised with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in Bermondsey.

Ruth Duston: OBE

Ruth Duston, the executive director of the Cheapside Business Improvement District,   which aims to transform the Cheapside area of the City into a world class shopping destination, has been bestowed an OBE.

Matthew Ring: BEM

Finally, Matthew Ring has also been awarded a BEM for services to communities in the City of London in his capacity working for the Corporation’s department of community and children’s services.

Cover image by Englishseva (Creative Commons).

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