The Old Bostonian Association

Mike Powley (BGS 1970-1973)

Mike Powley and his partner, Anne

Mike Powley was awarded an MBE in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Born in Boston in 1956 his school life started at Staniland Primary. The family moved to Hastings in 1964 where his father worked in Local Government. He joined BGS in 1970 on returning from Kendal, Westmorland (now Cumbria) where he attended Kendal Grammar having moved there in 1968.

On leaving BGS in 1973 Mike joined Woolworth’s, Boston as a trainee manager, transferring to the Midlands with them in 1974. 1977 saw a move to Anglesey, North Wales where he ran his own business and in 1985 he joined an agency of the Manpower Services Commission developing projects and programmes for people with special needs in North Wales. From 1990 this took him around the country, working in Norfolk, Shropshire, Tyneside, the West Midlands and finally in Dorset.

In 1992 Mike joined Dorset County Council Social Services, developing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. When local government was re-organised in 1997 he was appointed to his current post of Social Services’ Supported Employment Manager with responsibility for managing and developing vocational training and for employment opportunities within the county. He was elected Chairman of the National Association for Supported Employment (NASE) in March 2000. The organisation represents over 100 local authorities and voluntary bodies who assist some 20,000 disabled people in employment, and works with Ministers and Government Departments to further disability rights.

The appointment of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on 14th June 2003 made a double celebration for his family. The previous day his parents, Peggy and Bill, who still live in Boston, were celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary with Mike and his partner Anne.


webmaster@bostonian.org.uk
Web design by Simon Meeds

Updated 21 February, 2005