A Word from our Chair

We are thrilled that Dr Beverly Lindsay OBE, OD and Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands has agreed to become a patron for The Feast. Her work with the Caribbean community, business life, church involvement and work for the Lieutenancy means that Beverly is well placed to represent The Feast in a wide variety of contexts. In this our 10th anniversary year we are keen to expand and diversify the communities and young people we work with and look forward to working with Beverly to achieve this aim.

~ Canon Dr Andrew Smith

Our Newest Patron:  Dr Beverly Lindsay OBE, OD

Dr Beverly Lindsay OBE, OD was appointed the Vice Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands for a three-year term in 2017. Beverly is the founder and general manager of Diamond Travel, one of Birmingham’s leading independent travel agencies.

Beverly was born in St Thomas, Jamaica and came to Birmingham as a young teenager to complete her secondary education. She started her career in nursing and midwifery and after leaving nursing she worked as a Senior Community Worker in Handsworth Birmingham and later in financial services before establishing Diamond Travel in 1987.

Throughout her career, Beverly has always found time and energy to provide a selfless service to the development of her local community and her beloved country – Jamaica. Beverly is a celebrated mentor, champion and supporter of the African Caribbean community not only in Birmingham but throughout the UK and internationally. This work, alongside her success in business, has resulted in her receiving many awards in appreciation of her outstanding work and contribution to society, as well as two honorary doctorates from Aston University and Birmingham City University in 2017.

Beverly became a member of the Rotary Club of Birmingham in 1997 and served as President during 2012/13, the first African-Caribbean woman president in almost a hundred years history of the Rotary Club of Birmingham. Beverly is a committed Christian and is a longstanding member of New Testament Church of God in Handsworth, Birmingham.

“Whilst there are a number of initiatives and many organisations seeking to promote community cohesion and interfaith dialogue in the City; THE FEAST is ground breaking in its approach by drawing in young people often living at the sharp end of difficult relations, those that may not be natural ‘joiners’ and engaging them in exceptional youth activities.

A Christian Organisation, rooted in its belief, that embrace and bring people of different cultures and beliefs together to share and fellowship, affording learning to understand each other so that each person can become a better citizen in today’s challenging Society.”

“Young people are the mirror within our community, we can reflect our cohesive and tolerant approach upon how young relate to each other and what is means to have pride in their civic inter-relationships”.

~ Dr Beverly Lindsay OBE, OD. 2019