Long serving Coventry Society member, Alan Griffiths, was awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List this week. Alan received the award in recognition of his contribution to the community in Foleshill.
Alan is the leading light in the Broad Street Meeting Hall in Foleshill. For many years Alan ran Broad Street Windows and generously provided a local community meeting hall in the former Salvation Army building, which was next to his premises.
Since his retirement Alan has dedicated his life to creating a new, modern, purpose built community centre for local people to replace the old worn out premises. He secured a million pounds National Lottery Grant and work is currently well underway to build the new centre.
Last year the Broad Street Meeting Hall was awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, which is regarded as the MBE for Voluntary Organisations. The award was presented to Alan and other members of the organisation by the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands at an event held at St. Mary’s Hall in November 2018.
In acknowledging the award Alan sent “..thanks to all concerned, Friends, relations, committee, hall users and associated connections of Broad Street Hall, Coventry Groups and Foleshill Groups that made this possible.”
The Coventry Society is proud to have Alan as a member!
Over Coventry citizens to receive awards this year include Professor John Latham, Vice Chancellor of Coventry University, Professor Duncan Lawson for services to mathematics, Rashid Bhyat, founder of the Positive Youth Foundation, Dr Abdullahi Shehu for services to Community Cohesion, Ghulam Mohammed Vohra, Vice Chairman, Coventry Muslim Forum, Marilyn Haddon for services to Charitable Fundraising and Mary Lambert, school governor at Broad Heath Primary School. Our congratulations to them all.