Founder of City Hindus Network, Dhruv Patel has received an OBE from Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, for voluntary service to the British Hindu community and to Social Cohesion. He received the honour in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours. Patel attended the investiture ceremony with his family at the Buckingham Palace on February 5. The London-born 35 year old who serves as a director of the City of London Academies Trust, and is Deputy Chairman of the City Bridge, has his interests in property, retail pharmacy, and the London insurance market.
He became the first chairman of the City Hindus Network when it was established in 2005, and he held the position until 2010. Patel now serves as one of its three directors. Since 2013, he has served as an elected member (Common Councilman) of the City of London Corporation. He later became the City of London Corporation's first ever chair of a committee from a BAME background when he was elected Chairman of Community & Children's Services, with the responsibility of leading members into making decisions about social care, education, housing, wealth and wellbeing.
“I'm deeply humbled to have been invested as an Officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. I have been heavily engaged in voluntary service, particularly for the Hindu community, since my university days. My election to the City of London Corporation gave me the chance to broaden out this work. My focus has been on ensuring London's young people have the best start to life, and all communities have the opportunity to thrive. Whilst it is wonderful to receive this national honour, recognition cannot be the driver sewa or selfless service is, and shall continue to be, a vital part of my life,” Patel said.
