Jane pictured with her daughter Nina (BGS, Year 11)

We are delighted to announce that Chair of the Bedford High School Alumnae Association, The Guild, Jane Leech (née McKendrick, BHS 1982), has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s delayed birthday honours list for the recognition of her work at Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre in Clapham, Bedford.

Jane has been a voluntary member of the Independent Monitoring Boards (IMB), including five years as Chair, for the past 14 years. The role of the Independent Monitoring Boards is to monitor and maintain fair treatment of people in prison or immigration detention.

Jane said: “It’s a wonderful surprise and a huge honour to be awarded an MBE. I am passionate about the role and about the value of IMBs: in these uncertain times, when so many people are on the move across the globe, it’s never been more important to check that those who find themselves in immigration detention are treated justly and humanely.”

Jane Leech is a former Head Girl of Bedford High School.  Following school she read Law at Wadham College, Oxford and began her career in the City at international law firm Lovells (now Hogan Lovells), specialising in commercial litigation.  In 1999 Jane took a career break as her husband was posted abroad, and for over a decade after their return to the UK Jane combined looking after their family of four girls (all BHS and BGS) with studying and volunteering.   In recent years Jane has started a business with another BGS parent, growing cut flowers to sell to local businesses and individuals, Howbury Farm Flowers.