A COUNSELLOR for disabled Bangladeshis, a beefeater and an Indian chef are among men and women in East London who have been included in the New Years Honours list

A COUNSELLOR for disabled Bangladeshis, a beefeater and an Indian chef are among men and women in East London who have been included in the New Years Honours list.

Gulrook Begum (pictured, left), the first counsellor for disabled Bangladeshi people in London’s East End, gets the MBE.

She has worked for the Disability Counselling Service at Shadwell for 17 years and is one of a team of four helping people cope with their disabilities.

The service is the first of its kind in Britain and 56-year-old Mrs Begum was the first Bengali counsellor for those with disabilities.

Richard Sands (pictured, right) Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London, has been awarded the Royal Victoria Medal for his work as a beefeater.

The former Army musician has been in charge of the Queen’s Chapel at The Tower for 10 years.

Cyrus Todiwala, owner of Whitechapel’s award-winning Caf� Spice Namaste in Prescott Street, just five minutes from The Tower, has been awarded an OBE.

It is the second time for Cyrus on the Honours list, after being made an MBE in 2000, both times for services to the hospitality industry.

His restaurant is one of the few Indian outlets to get a coveted BIB award in the Michelin Guide.

He is also an ambassador’ for the Investors in People programme and has been involved with the National Advisory Counsel for Education & Training Targets and is also a keen advocate of organic produce.

Others on the Honours list announced today (Thursday) include Prof Adrian Newland, professor of haematology and director of the Pathology & Clinical Academic unit at the Barts and The London NHS Trust, which runs the Royal London in Whitechapel and St Bartholemew’s in the City. He gets the CBE for services to medicine.

Another on the list is Kenneth Ayers, who gets an MBE for services to the City of London Corporation.