Lord Adebowale visits Forest Gate school, becomes a Bon‘s Boy for the day
Lord Victor Adebowale visited St Bon's in Forest Gate where he met many of the pupils including deputy head boy Malcolm Ebose - Credit: Archant
A member of the House of Lords visited a Newham school, saying he wanted to wear its gold striped tie.
Lord Victor Adebowale visited St Bonaventure’s School on Friday and became a Bon’s Boy for the day when he donned its distinctive gold striped tie.
He met with members of the School Council, the Head Boy and Deputy Head Boy and 6th Form pupils who are studying Government and Politics, History and Health and Social Care.
Paul Halliwell, head teacher of the school in Forest Gate, said: “ He really was an inspirational speaker and when he said he wanted to be just like one of our students and wear our school tie. I thought that was a really lovely touch. He was so down to earth and yet has achieved amazing things in his life.”
Mr Adebowale told students how he went from being a street sweeper to a cross bench member of the House of Lords. He worked in the Housing Department in Newham before going on to help alcoholics and the homeless when he ran the charity Centrepoint in London from 1995 until 2001.
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He told students that they must stay true to themselves, do something they enjoy and to make a difference in the World.
He joined Turning Point as Chief Executive in 2001 and is a champion for the cause of those affected by poverty, mental health issues, drugs, alcohol, learning disability and complex needs.
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In 2000, Mr Adebowale was awarded a CBE for services to the New Deal, the unemployed, and homeless young people and in 2001, he was appointed a cross bench member of the House of Lords. Victor is on the Board of the Audit Commission and former chair of the Home Office’s Stop and Search Community panel.
