THE CHAIR of Governors at Capel Manor College has been made an MBE in the New Year Honours.
Malcolm Parkinson, 63, the founding marketing director of B&Q, became a governor at Capel Manor in 1984. He has chaired the governing body since 2007 and is a member of four committees, including the finance committee, to which he contributed expertise gained from expanding the home improvement store.
As well as holding chief executive and director posts at other retail chains, he is a keen gardening enthusiast, and is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.
He said: “It has been a privilege to be involved with Capel Manor and now to be the Chair of Governors. The MBE was a big surprise and is the icing on the cake for me.
“The award recognises the Capel team, the dedication of the staff, the brilliance of the students, the uniqueness of the gardens at Enfield, the sponsorship, all the little extras which come from the staff’s commitment and the general ’can do’ attitude of everyone over the years”.
College Principal Steve Dowbiggin said: “He has certainly earned this award, having selflessly given his time and expertise. The college has grown from the original 48 students on one site to being five sites with nearly 3,000 students across London. He never saw the college as just a college – he always aspired for us to be more of a social and community enterprise generating synery and regeneration wherever we are.”
Mr Parkinson had been instrumental in helping to minimise the college’s dependence on government funding, he added.
