Left to Right: Lord Mayor’s Deputy Cllr.John Lines, Mr.Chris Cartoudis, The Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands Mr.Paul Sabapathy, Mrs.Areti Cartoudis, His Excellency The High Commissioner of Cyprus Mr.Euripides Evriviades.
Chris Cartoudis, the Principal of the Greek School of Apostolos Andreas in Birmingham and Solihull resident was awarded his British Empire Medal by the Lord Lieutenant in the West Midlands Mr. Paul Sabapathy.
The presentation by the Lord Lieutenant was conducted at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Birmingham. The venue was chosen by Chris Cartoudis so that as much of the community that he has served as its teacher could be present.
In awarding the honour The Lord Lieutenant made reference to the fact that Mr.Cartoudis “could boast the fact that he has taught not just the children and their parents, but in many cases their Grandparents too.”
School Hall named “THE CHRISTOPHOROS CARTOUDIS HALL”
After the presentation of the British Empire Medal, the Chairman of the Greek School Governing Committee announced the surprise that the school had renamed the School Hall – “The Christophoros Cartoudis Hall”. To which he invited His Excellency the High Commissioner of Cyprus Mr.Evriviades and the Chief Inspector of the Cyprus Educational Mission Mrs.Maria Papalouka to unveil the plaque.
The High Commissioner stated that “Mr.Cartoudis was a man of ethos, altruism and a true eupatrid. And his leadership and teaching is something that we need to be in awe.”
John Stylianou says “that when we put this motion forward, it was the easiest vote that we had to make. It was a quick and unanimous….many of us have been taught by Chris Cartouthis, some of us learnt the man as colleagues working alongside him, but we all knew the legend that he is. These awards are the least that he deserves.”
He stated further that “most Greek Schools in the Midlands owed their origins to the Greek School of St. Andreas in Birmingham; Chris Cartoudis is part of the DNA of that school and as a result, influenced these schools, not just in one generation but now over three generations.”
Maria Papalouka stated “it is important that we celebrate service of this unprecedented level, it teaches our children that selfless giving is something that we applaud…..our next generation, our children can see that the gift of giving doesn’t go unnoticed.”
The award ceremony was attended by Lord Lieutenant, His Excellency the High Commissioner for Cyprus Mr.Euripides Evriviades, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s Deputy, Cllr.John Lines, the Chief Inspector of the Cypriot Educational Mission, Mrs Maria Papalouka, The Honorary Consul for Greece in Birmingham, Mr.Christopher Phillipides, The Honorary Consul of Cyprus in Birmingham, Mr.Costas Petrouis, the Archbishops Representative and Proistamen of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Birmingham, Father Kosmas Pavlidis.
Other communities throughout the Midlands were represented, as well some 200 plus other guests. Most important were the Children of the School of whom some 90 children were present.
