Wolverhampton business figure awarded honorary degree

LEADING Wolverhampton business figure Hugh Meynell has been awarded an honorary degree from the city’s university.

Mr Meynell, whose family firm has been associated with the city for more than 200 years, is the founder of the County Air Ambulance Trust.

He was presented with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration at a graduation ceremony at the city’s Grand Theatre.

The award, presented by the University of Wolverhampton Business School, was conferred in recognition of Mr Meynell’s entrepreneurial flair and business leadership.

Mr Meynell was born at Albrighton in 1931. Educated at Ampleforth, his French tutor was a young monk named Basil Hume, who later became Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster.

Mr Meynell spent more than 40 years at Meynell & Sons, serving as chairman. He was the sixth generation of the family to be associated with the business.

The company, which began as a brassfounder, progressed to making water pumps, gas and electrical fittings. It also incorporated Safemix Thermostatic Showers, used on the QE2 liner and at Buckingham Palace.

After the company was sold to Caradon in 1988, Mr Meynell undertook voluntary work including being the chairman of Shropshire St John Ambulance for nine years. He was also chairman of the Rural Development Commission for three years, and High Sheriff of Shropshire. He is the current president of the Shrewsbury Flower Show.

He founded the County Air Ambulance Trust in 1992, which now raises £2m per annum to support three air ambulances at Cosford, Strensham and Stafford.

He was awarded an MBE in 2000.