By IANS
London : Chennai-born financial analyst and educationist Paul Chandrasekharan Sabapathy has become the first non-white to be accorded a rare British honour that makes him Queen Elizabeth’s personal representative in the West Midlands.
“The Queen has been pleased to appoint Paul Sabapathy Esq. CBE as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for the County of the West Midlands following the retirement of Sir Robert Taylor KCVO,” a statement issued from 10 Downing Street said.
“Lord-lieutenants are the monarch’s representatives in their lieutenancy. It is their foremost duty to uphold the dignity of the Crown, and in so doing they seek to promote a spirit of co-operation and good atmosphere by the time they give to voluntary and benevolent organisations and by the interest they take in the business and social life of their counties,” an official here said explaining the appointment.
The office dates from the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547) in the Tudor days, and the Lord-Lieutenant was originally responsible for the maintenance of order and for local defence.
The current responsibilities include all aspects of visits by members of the Royal Family, escorting Royal Visitors, presentation of awards and medals on behalf of the Queen, representing the Queen at a variety of events, chairmanship of the advisory committee that recommends the appointment of magistrates to the Lord Chancellor, liaison with local units of the armed forces, and advising on honours nominations.
The West Midlands covers Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, Coventry, Solihull, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell, and Dudley, with a total population of about 3.5 million. There have been only two previous holders of this office since 1974, when the county was established.
Sabapathy is currently the chairman and pro-chancellor of the University of Central England (UCE), Birmingham, the first non-white to hold the post.
Born in Chennai, Sabapathy moved to Britain in 1964, when he was 21.
After studying at Lawrence School, Lovedale and Madras Christian College, he obtained a masters Degree from Aston University and qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant. He became a British citizen in 1984.
After a 28-year career in industry holding senior positions with engineering major IMI plc, Sabapathy retired as assistant managing director of IMI Titanium in 1996.
He was also chief executive of North Birmingham Community NHS (National Health Service) Trust, serving until 2000.
Sabapathy 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.
He has been a member of the boards of the Birmingham and Black Country Development Corporations, Standards Board for England, and of the National Blood Authority, chair of the West Midlands Industrial Development Board, past president of Walsall Chamber of Commerce, and a trustee of the Refugee Council.
Sabapathy 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.
Sabapathy lives in Sutton Coldfield, is married to Win, and they have two adult children.