Citizen award winner shocked by recognition
BCA AwardsA man who works to make life better for people in his Coventry community, says he is in shock after becoming a British citizen of the year.
Mick Lagbir Singh, one of the first British Asian officers to join West Midlands Police, has won the Medal of Honour for volunteering and charitable giving, at the British Citizen Awards.
Singh, 72, said his volunteering started aged 11 when he helped on a paper round aged 11, and it has not stopped, including helping neighbours with their shopping and taking seriously ill children to Disney World in Florida.
"I carried on in the police, I'd help in youth clubs, referee football matches with the kids on my days off. It's just carried on from there."
Singh, who was presented with the award at a ceremony in the Palace of Westminster, served for 22 and-a-half years in the police, retiring in 1996.
He is still working to help pay for his volunteering work and gifts for those in need.
"Last week, someone on social media said they were short of shopping, so I delivered her some. They've got a mobility vehicle and it was on the drive and she said she couldn't drive it because there was no diesel in it.
"When I got back home, I sent her £50 for diesel."
Volunteering 'a buzz'
The medal is not the first national award Singh has won.
In 2025, he was presented with the Lifetime Achiever honour at the National Diversity Awards, in a ceremony held at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
He said volunteering continues to give him a buzz.
"If you can do somebody a good turn, it's good," he said.
"It comes back to you ten-fold as well."
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