LONDON (UK) ā It was a proud moment and an honour for British Herald Magazine when its latest issue (September-October 2020), featuring its patron Lord Ranger CBE ā a member of the House of Peers and award-winning millionaire entrepreneur ā on the cover, was released by HE Abdirahman Abdallahi Saylici, vice-president of the Republic of Somaliland, in the UAE on October 27. During the event held at Al Habtoor Palace Hotel in Dubai, British Herald Executive Director Ansif Ashraf handed over a copy of the magazine to the high-ranking dignitary, who is on a visit to the Emirates.
The cover story of the latest issue of the british herald magazine is a riveting account of the fascinating journey of Lord Ranger, which began in a refugee camp in newly independent India in 1947. It narrates how Ranger was just two months old when his 35-year-old mother had to flee with her eight children from Gujranwala in what is now Pakistan to India following the assassination of his father and freedom fighter Shaheed Nanak Singh. She worked as a teacher and brought up her children undergoing immense difficulties.
After his graduation, he left for London, the city of his dreams, in 1971 aiming for higher studies. But soon he came to realise the bitter truth that money does not grow on trees in the UK and he was forced to start his career as a car cleaner earning just 35p an hour. The cover story charts his journey towards success armed with grit and determination. The break came when the young Ranger joined KFC as a sales assistant and quickly became district manager. Later, he ran a post office and sweet shop and went on to work for Dixonās.
It was from there that he took his first big step as an entrepreneur. With just two pounds in his pocket and an old typewriter, he singlehandedly rolled out Sea Air and Land Forwarding Ltd from a barn in Hayes in 1987. And the rest is history. Armed with courage, foresight, dedication and above all honesty, today he owns Sun Mark Ltd, which has an enviable position among British firms. With the support of Sea Air and Land Forwarding, Sun Mark became a global brand and a leader in the segment. His firms have received the coveted Queenās Award for Export Achievement in 1999 and the Queenās Award for Enterprise in International Trade for an unprecedented five consecutive years – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013.
In 2005, he was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and 11 years later, he was made a Commander of the British Empire. Recognising his overall contributions, he was nominated to life peerage and membership in the House of Lords in Prime Minister Theresa Mayās resignation honours in 2019. On October 11 the same year, he was created Baron Ranger of Mayfair in the city of Westminster.
The cover story also shows Ranger as a person who builds bridges between communities in Britain. There are only a few stalwarts from the Indian community who have won so many accolades and recognitions as Ranger, who is the patron of the Princeās Trust and the Prime Ministerās Ambassador for Apprenticeships for the Food and Drink Industry. The chairman of the British Sikh Association, the peer also chairs the Pakistan, India and UK Friendship Forum and is the Patron of the Punjabi Society of the British Isles. His close association with the Conservative Party has brought him laurels in the form of Deputy Treasurer of the party and Chairman of the Conservative Partyās Annual Foreign & Commonwealth Dinner.
He is also the Co-Chairman of the Conservative Friends of India, which seeks to foster solidarity between the party and the British Indian community and India as well. Lord Ranger is the Trustee of the Gandhi statue in Parliament Square and is the Vice-Chairman of the Indian Gymkhana.
Another fascinating aspect of this titan among Indian origin Britons, which the cover story highlights, is Baron Rangerās munificence. He donated Ā£250,000 to London South Bank University to establish āThe Rami Ranger CBE Entrepreneurship Centreā to provide succour to aspiring businessmen of tomorrow. Another Ā£200,000 went to the University of West London for a studentsā hostel apart from Ā£40,000 to set up a new group pavilion in the varsityās library.
He also supported the cause of the Gandhi monument in London by donating Ā£150,000 to the Gandhi Memorial Foundation. The Indian Gymkhana received Ā£50,000 from him for accommodation facilities for athletes. Likewise, he donated Ā£150,000 to the Princeās Trust of which he is a Fellow to help young men nurture their dreams of becoming successful businessmen. The Thames Hospice in Maidenhead received Ā£100,000 from Lord Ranger.
He is also the patron of the āGreat Walkā undertaken by the Chairman of the India Association UK, has helped raise Ā£100,000 for research into finding a cure for AIDS and cancer at Northwick Park and St Markās Hospital in Harrow.