Sikh memorial founder 'elated' by King's honour

Jay Singh Sohal was invited to join the board of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's charitable foundation in 2017

A man who established the UK's first memorial to Sikhs who served in both world wars has been recognised for his voluntary work in the King's Birthday Honours list.

Captain Jay Singh Sohal from Sutton Coldfield has been appointed an OBE for services to the commemoration of Commonwealth soldiers who served Great Britain.

He founded the World War One Sikh Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in 2015, and has since contributed to other local monuments for Sikhs - promoting their roles in past conflicts.

He said he was "humbled and elated" by the news, adding that it had been "the honour of my life" to commemorate Sikhs "so that their memory lives on forevermore".

The national WW1 Sikh Memorial statue commemorates the 130,000 Sikh men who took part in the conflict

"The valour of the Sikhs in particular inspired me to join the Army Reserve, to deploy on operations and fight for my country and create the national WW1 Sikh Memorial," the 42-year-old said.

"My hope is that young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds like mine are inspired by those who serve, to take a stand for the freedoms we cherish today."

Mr Sohal said he had also created and delivered educational programmes and events for people from diverse backgrounds to learn more about the Sikh contribution during the wars and continued service in modern Britain.

In 2017, he said he was invited to join the board of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's charitable foundation and earlier this year represented it at the unveiling of a new memorial to African Labourers from Cape Town, in South Africa, at Coventry Cathedral for VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations.

Other Staffordshire honours recipients include:

• Emma Mary Bridgewater, founder of Emma Bridgewater Pottery, is appointed a DBE for services to ceramics

• Sean Allen Whinray, of Stafford, senior support officer at the Staffordshire Lieutenancy, is appointed an MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order) for services to the Crown

• Michael Charles Mellor, of Cannock, coordinator of the Miners Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, is appointed an OBE for services to heritage and to recognition of the mining community

• Dr Diane Swift, of Burton upon Trent, a trustee of The Creative Learning Partnership Trust, is appointed an OBE for services to education

• Prof Sharon Arkell, of Burntwood, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing at the University of Wolverhampton, is appointed an MBE for for services to higher education

• Rachel Daly, of Tamworth, is appointed an MBE for services to association football

• John Ian Davies, of Stafford, Associate Professor of Biomedical Science Practice at Staffordshire University, is appointed an MBE for services to the NHS diagnostic pathology service and biomedical science education

• Saffron Fern Lane, of Pattingham, lately captain of the GB Women's Ice Hockey team, is appointed an MBE for services to sport

• Graham Lee, of Tamworth, Chair of the Statfold Narrow Gauge Museum Trust Ltd, is appointed an MBE for services to heritage railway preservation and charity

• Gareth Brian Moss, of Alrewas, Chair of Trustees for the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust, is appointed an MBE for services to education

• Elisabeth Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster care

• Gavin Brownlees, of Tamworth, a foster carer for the Birmingham Children's Trust, is awarded a BEM for services to foster care

• Andrew David Buttery, of High Offley, a volunteer for Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire

• Valerie Neale, of Stonnall, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Stonnall

• Tracey O'Flaherty, of Stafford, is awarded a BEM for services to the community in Staffordshire