THE founder of the World Sikh University in Harrow has been given an OBE for his services to education.

Dr Sukhbir Singh Kapoor said he was “thrilled” when he heard he had been named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

He said: “All my life I have been involved in education, it is in my blood.

“I was thrilled, and delighted, and my family were all very happy when they heard the news.”

Dr Kapoor, who turns 75 in November, started the university in 1997 in Pinner Road, Harrow, to teach about different world religions.

He said: “I was interested in teaching comparative studies in world religions, bringing all religions together under the inter-faith banner.”

Dr Kapoor, who lives with his family in St Thomas Drive, Pinner, moved to this country in 1965, and has been widely published in books and articles on the topic of interfaith relationships.

Another member of the education sector, long-time Kenmore Park First and Middle School governor David Maurice, was honoured with an MBE.

Mr Maurice has been the chair of governors at the school, in Moorhouse Road, Kenton, for the last 11 years, and as an ordinary governor for four years before that.

The 58-year-old, of Cherry Tree Court, was nominated by nine people, including former Mayor of Harrow Eric Silver, for his dedication and hard work in the role.

He said: “Apart from feeling good for myself, this is great for the school. It has fabulous kids and a brilliant pair of head teachers who make my job easy.

“The largest group of unpaid workers in the country is governors, and I see this as a pat on the back for every governor up and down the country who devote a lot of time working to improve our schools.”