31 December 2011
Former Lord Mayor, City Police Commissioner and two City
Corporation officers honoured
Former Lord Mayor Michael Bear has been knighted by Her Majesty
the Queen for services to regeneration, charity and the City of
London.
Sir Michael – the first Lord Mayor from both a property and
engineering background - was elected Lord Mayor for the year
November 2010 to November 2011 and served with his wife
Barbara.
Sir Michael and Lady Bear were both born in Africa and that
continent figured significantly in his year. He led many overseas
delegations around the globe as Lord Mayor on behalf of UK-based
business, visiting 23 countries including major fast-growing
countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and the Gulf
states.
As Lord Mayor of the City of London and ambassador for the
UK-based financial services and business sector, he also received
numerous visiting ministerial delegations and those at head of
government and head of state level.
Sir Michael’s wide-ranging voluntary work also started in Africa
with community projects in the South African Townships during the
apartheid era.
He said: ‘I feel greatly honoured and would like to thank my
wife Barbara, our family, and all those many friends and colleagues
for the immense support given me.
‘As an engineer you have a great chance to make a tangible
difference to people’s lives and create prosperity, growth and jobs
– and I would encourage any young person to take up the profession;
it will take you around the world.’
'I was an unusual Lord Mayor in being a client of City services
– someone from the demand side – and I hope I have made a small
contribution to showing how construction, engineering and finance
can work together to regenerate cities and build the infrastructure
of development.’
Sir Michael’s distinguished career has seen him work around the
world on many major infrastructure and regeneration projects.
President of the Institution of Civil Engineers Richard Coackley
said: “We’d like to warmly congratulate Michael on his Knighthood,
which is well-deserved recognition not only for his work as Lord
Mayor, but for his long-serving contribution to the construction
industry. ‘’
From his leadership of successful inner-city regeneration
projects to his dedication to large scale disaster-relief
fundraising campaigns, Michael sets a fantastic example for a new
generation of budding engineers. He has shown real commitment to
the crucial role civil engineering plays in society and serves as
an inspiration for the profession.”
Sir Michael was made an honorary fellow of the Institution of
Civil Engineers last year for his services to civil engineering and
he is also a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
and honorary fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. His Lord
Mayor’s appeal was for the children’s charity Coram and the
Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief ‘RedR’.
City of London Police Commissioner Adrian Leppard was honoured
with the Queen's Police Medal. Two long-serving officers of the
City Corporation were honoured with MBEs: Fred Woodhams, 59, a lab
technician at the City of London School for Boys for 40 years, was
honoured for services to young people after voluntarily helping
young people from both the school and Peckham – for decades - take
part in the cadet force, teaching them leadership skills and
encouraging them to maximise their potential. Paul Eskriett, 62,
was also awarded the MBE for services to local government after a
long and distinguished career with both the police and at the
City’s Guildhall where he was responsible for managing the City’s
preparedness in the event of terrorist or other attack.
Ends
Media contact: Greg Williams 020 7332 1455 + 07889 167
205