News

Ashraf Uddin MBE

Ashraf Uddin, Director of Learning Phases at The Warren School, was recently appointed a Member of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in July for his services to St John Ambulance.

Ashraf volunteers for the national health and first aid charity at their unit in Rainham and South Hornchurch. He has volunteered with the charity for 20 years and has given nearly 550 hours of service last year including during the COVID-19 pandemic, crewing frontline ambulances and working in the COVID ward at Brentwood Hospital, where the NHS team has praised his volunteer activities.

In his volunteering journey with St John he has given around 10,500 hours of service to St John Ambulance and, over the years, has taught first aid to many children at primary and secondary school. During lockdown he delivered medication to self-isolating residents in Chelmsford in his role as a volunteer for the Chelmsford Community Response Hub.

He is also chairman of the Newham Voluntary Association for the Blind. In the past he has volunteered for Newham Rheumatoid Arthritis Club and Newham Talking Newspaper. Ashraf said: ‘Being appointed a Member of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a real honour, which I am very grateful for but this is my hobby that I do in my spare time through which I enjoy supporting my community. St John Ambulance is my second family and this is good recognition for the work we do as a team. I have a very close unit who have always supported each other for many, many years. I would recommend others to St John Ambulance and to learn First Aid. You never know when you might need the skills and can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.’