Royal role for Leicester graduate
A University of Leicester graduate has received the distinction of a royal role.
Riaz Ravat BEM has been confirmed as one of eight new Deputy Lieutenants for the county of Leicestershire commissioned under oath, in honour of their service to the local community.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Lady Gretton, made the appointments at a special ceremony at County Hall in Glenfield.
Riaz studied for his Master's degree at Leicester from 1999-2000. Riaz is currently Deputy Director of St Philip’s Centre where he leads on a wide range of interfaith initiatives through training, education and engagement. He is a member of Leicester Cathedral’s Council, the Crown Prosecution Service’s Hate Crime Panel and serves as Advisor for a number of other notable bodies. In 2013, Riaz was conferred a British Empire Medal (BEM) in HM the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list for services to interfaith understanding.
The Lord-Lieutenant is the official representative of Her Majesty The Queen for the County and City of Leicester.
Deputy Lieutenants undertake a wide range of duties and engagements including representing the Lord-Lieutenant and participating in Citizenship Ceremonies, attending remembrance services and parades and helping to assess local organisations nominated for awards and honours.
Others associated with the University of Leicester who have received the distinction in recent years include Professor Sir Nilesh Samani from our Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Chairman of the University Council, Dr Bridget Towle, and former Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Robert Burgess.