When local hero Frank Charles received an email in April nominating him for a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list he thought it was a hoax. He was sceptical, so he called the number in the email to confirm.

He was told that he had been nominated and would he accept it? Frank said yes and was sworn to secrecy.

The Queen approved his nomination in early June. His family celebrated.

Frank was given the commendation in recognition of his sterling work in supporting rough sleepers and vulnerable families during the pandemic. He receives donations of food, clothes and furniture which he distributes to the vulnerable at the Carpenters & Docklands Centre.

He recalled being visited by a former rough sleeper he didn’t recognise. The gentleman was smartly dressed and told Frank he came to express his gratitude to him for turning his life around. This made it all worthwhile for Frank.

He has been doing charitable work for many years and set up his own charity the Frank Charles Give a Gift Appeal in 2004 (FCGAGA).

The charity collects and delivers donations for children who are sick and in hospital over the Christmas period. frankcharles.org.uk.

Also among people from Newham honoured this year is Harmit Ahluwalia, known as Anju, who receives the British Empire Medal for community service during the pandemic. She started Food4All with husband Nim in 2016 to feed homeless people and those on lower incomes. Based at Namdhari Gurdwara in Forest Gate, the initiative has provided 120,000 meals for people in need since March 2020.

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