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UCE Birmingham chairman receives eminent royal appointment

4442/SX Friday 24th August 2007
 
Paul Sabapathy CBE, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Governors of UCE Birmingham, has received the distinguished honour of being appointed Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands county.

The role of Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands has only been held by two previous individuals since the West Midlands region was established in 1974. As the official representative of the Queen, Mr Sabapathy will be responsible for hosting and accompanying all Royal visits to the region. His duties will include the presentation of medals on behalf of Her Majesty and leading the local magistracy by chairing the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace. Mr Sabapathy’s role will also include liaison with local armed forces and cadets, as well as other civic, voluntary and social duties.

The role of Lord-Lieutenant is of military origin and dates back to the reign of Henry VIII, when responsibilities of office included ensuring the maintenance of order and local defence.

Mr Sabapathy has been a member of UCE Birmingham’s Board of Governors for 11 years and is in his sixth year as Chairman of the University. He was awarded the OBE for services to Urban Regeneration in 1995 and a CBE in 2004 for services to business and education in the West Midlands.  He is currently Chair of Birmingham East and North Primary Care Trust, Vice-Chair of the NHS Confederation Primary Care Trust Network, a Committee member of the Higher Education Funding Council and a Trustee of the Bournville Village Trust.

Mr Sabapathy is 64 and lives in Sutton Coldfield with his wife Win, and has two adult children.

For further information please contact Birmingham City University Media Relations Office on 0121 331 6738, email press@bcu.ac.uk or out of hours on 07967 271 532.

Please note; this press release was written when we were still called University of Central England in Birmingham; since then we have changed our name to Birmingham City University.