Champagne reception for charity stalwart

Fundraising friends of Black Country business boss Stewart Towe threw a champagne reception to celebrate his CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Fellow members of the Worcestershire-based charity club The Fine Fourteen held the celebratory event at Brockencote Hall, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire.

Mr Towe, group managing director of Hadley Industries, of West Bromwich, who lives near Stourport, was appointed CBE for his services to regional business affairs.

Former CBI chief, Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, a fellow ex-pupil with Mr Towe at Bromsgrove School, said: "I have known Stewart for about 40 years and he is a fabulous bloke.

"This honour is richly deserved."

Will Gough, a member of The Fine Fourteen, said: "Stewart has done a huge amount for business in the region and for charity.

"We organised this celebration because we don't think he has received sufficient recognition for the award of this honour."

Mr Towe, who is chairman of the Black Country Consortium, was appointed Business in the Community's regional Ambassador for the West Midlands by the Prince of Wales in 2007. He is a governor of Sandwell Academy, Bromsgrove School and Wolverhampton University.

The Hadley Industries group is one of Europe's largest British producers of cold rolled sections and allied products and employs nearly 500 worldwide.

The Fine Fourteen is a club comprising 17 members.

They meet up on a monthly basis and organise events which raise around £5,000 a year for local charities.