Ilford South Labour Party

Lord Rix, Chancellor of the University of East London, presented awards to over three hundred graduates at London’s Barbican Hall on 8th November. He also presented honorary awards to two local heroes – John d’Abbro OBE, Head of Ilford special needs school, New Rush Hall, and Councillor Balvinder Kaur Saund - as well as to artist and entertainer Rolf Harris CBE.

Cllr Balvinder Kaur Saund is a tireless councillor and community activist, Chair of the Sikh Women’s Alliance, and has served as a Justice of the Peace and Chair of Remand and Youth Courts. She was elected a Labour councillor in Redbridge in May 2006, representing Seven Kings. Balvinder has worked in partnership with UEL for many years. Together with UEL Community Development Co-ordinator, Jasbir Kaur Panesar, she founded the successful Asian Women’s Education Fairs in Redbridge and across East London.

Accepting her Honorary MA, Balvinder said: “I was part of a generation of Asian women who were never expected to achieve. My parents had no real ambitions for me, so I set my own and succeeded. I’m so happy to see so many young Asian women graduating at today’s ceremony. Go for it, girls! Go into every profession – the world is your oyster!”

Balvinder will be Labour’s candidate in Havering and Redbridge for the 2008 Greater London Authority election.

John d’Abbro is Head of New Rush Hall, a pioneering school for children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. John has dramatically raised standards so it is now regularly among the top 5% of schools nationwide ranked by Value Added.

Congratulations to all Redbridge residents receiving awards from UEL in a series of ceremonies.