Honour for BFF Chairman

23rd June 2011

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The British Forces Foundation Chairman, Laurie Mansfield, was among a trio  of unsung heroes who have been given their special place on Birmingham Broad Street’s Walk Of Stars. Mr Mansfield – along with a pioneering surgeon and  a hero soldier – was presented with a special star in honour of his work for the British Armed Forces. The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Anita Ward, dedicated the star at a special ceremony. As well as Chairman of The BFF, Birmingham-born Mr Mansfield, is the man behind the Royal Variety show. The other recipients were Sir Keith Porter is the world’s leading micro surgeon and the UK’s only Professor of Clinical Traumatology. He is based in the military wing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and has led the country’s efforts to transform medical trauma practice; and Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, awarded the coveted George Cross in 2008, after he threw himself on a grenade after walking into a trip wire while out on patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Remarkably, his backpack took the full force of the explosion and his colleagues only suffered superficial injuries in the incident. Tim Flodin, chairman of the BID’s marketing committee, said: “I am delighted that the Walk of Stars is celebrating these three great gentlemen. What they have each contributed in their own way is fantastic and it is a pleasure to celebrate them. These are true unsung heroes of Birmingham and we proud to honour them in this unique way.” Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne and comedians Jasper Carrott and Frank Skinner, and the Birmingham Royal Ballet are just some of the many recipients who have been honoured along the city centre’s golden mile, since it was started in June 2007.