Peace as campaigner is reunited with CBE medal

May 30 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A NORTH East peace campaigner has been reunited with his CBE medal – more than six years after he handed it back in protest at the invasion on Iraq.

Grigor McClelland took a stand against Tony Blair’s decision to declare war on Iraq in 2003 by posting his medal back to the Honours Secretary at 10 Downing Street.

The 87-year-old founder of the Community Foundation was appointed to the honour in 1994 for his “charitable services to Tyne and Wear”.

But Prof McClelland, who is the former managing director of the food supplier Laws Stores, said he no longer wanted to be a Commander of the British Empire.

However after British troops ended their occupation at the end of April the father-of-four from Jesmond, Newcastle, requested his medal back.

Last night he said: “I felt the invasion was wrong. I had accepted the CBE in recognition of the work we had done in the community. Now they have reversed the invasion, there is no good ground for me not to ask it back. Getting it back is not as important as it was to give it away in the first place.

“The CBE was not just or me, but for the people who had worked in the voluntary sector and they deserve it as well.” When Prof returned his CBE in 2003 he was surprised that, when acknowledging receipt, No. 10 Downing Street said he could have it returned whenever he pleased.

And following the announcement that British Troops would be withdrawn from Iraq, he wrote to Downing Street to ask for its return.

Prof McClelland was originally awarded the CBE in 1994 for his work for charities in the North East.

His main contribution was as founder chair of the Community Foundation serving Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, which has long been the largest and most successful community foundation in the United Kingdom.

He served as chairman from 1988 to 1995 and still continues to be involved as a Vice President for the Foundation, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year.

The father-of-four served as chairman of the Washington Development Corporation, between 1977 and 1988.

During the Second World War he refused military service but served in the Friends Ambulance Unit behind the lines in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Italy and France between 1942 and 1945, and in post-war Germany for the twelve months following VE Day.

He said: “I felt so strongly that the Government did not have a mandate to invade Iraq that I could not continue to hold an honour which I had been delighted to receive for my charitable work.

“Now that the troops have finally been withdrawn, I feel I can have the medal back. I hope I do not have to give it up again.

“I’m glad we no longer occupy Iraq – it’s been pretty disastrous but not as disastrous as it might have been.”