A PROLIFIC fund-raiser for The Soldiers’ Charity, the Army’s national charity, receives a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Diana Hart, 77, chair of the Middlesex County Committee of the ABF Soldiers’ Charity, is honoured for her service to soldiers and their families.

For almost 50 years, she has been a member of the Middlesex committee and helped to raise £800,000 in the last 20 years.

Joining in 1974 as secretary, she has encouraged other volunteers to do what they can for the cause. She became chairman in 2007.

She collected more than £41,000 each year during the Chelsea Flower Show.

Diana also volunteered with the Girls Brigade for many years, helping young people to learn arts and crafts.

 

Jay Kumar Solanki, 59, also receives a BEM for services to dance and the community.

During the pandemic, he organised online Bollywood dance sessions to help with people’s physical and mental health.

He did more than 150 sessions in all during lockdown.

Jay has been spreading the joy of Bollywood dance for nearly 20 years in a unique and innovative way and has made a successful full-time career out of it since changing career paths in 2009.

His classes have run at Queensmead Sports Centre, South Ruislip, and at Northolt Leisure Centre since 2002.