MBE honours for Age Concern Luton director and former High Sheriff of Bedfordshire

They are Age Concern Luton director Colette McKeaveney and former High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Vinod Tailor.

Both are also Deputy Lord Lieutenants.

Colette, 55, said she was "humbled, proud, shocked and delighted in equal measures".

She added: “It’s the team at Age Concern Luton who really deserve this honour.

"I accept it with gratitude on their behalf, for their amazing love and care for older folk in Luton.”

The charity’s workload has almost doubled since the pandemic started and Colette and her team have been working round the clock on a reduced income to ensure the town’s senior citizens have the food, medicine, contact and support they so desperately need.

Vinod, who arrived in Luton with his family in 1972 as refugees from Uganda, admitted: “I was completely overwhelmed when I heard about the honour. But it’s also very humbling because you don’t know who nominated you.

"It’s much appreciated and nice to be recognised - but I was simply doing what I had to do.

“I dedicate this to all the charities and communities that give us a chance to serve them.”

Now a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers and Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments, Vinod, 63, was cited for his services to the community of Bedfordshire during Covid 19.

This included visiting hospitals and trying to obtain PPE as well as supplying food for everyone from front line workers to those living in hostels for the homeless.

MBEs also went to award-winning chef Oli Khan, 47, known as Luton’s Curry King, and Sanjeev Kumar, 45, general secretary of Luton’s Sikh temple Shri Guru Ravidass Sangat. Both have been at the forefront of efforts to help those hardest hit by the virus.

Three more Lutonians feature on the list. They are Roy Williams who received an MBE for his services to jazz; Geoffrey Mulgan, who’s been appointed a Knight Batchelor in recognition of his work with the creative economy; and Mohammad Aziz, who’s input with policing and diversity has been rewarded with an Order of the British Empire medal.