MBE for Jo Weir

In and Around Covent Garden would like to heartily congratulate Jo Weir on her recent award of an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. Jo was awarded the MBE for services to the community and will officially receive the prestigious accolade on 16 February at Buckingham Palace. Having been chairperson of the Covent Garden Community Association for over 20 years, Jo has worked tirelessly on behalf of Covent Garden’s residents and business community and has negotiated with both Camden Council and Westminster City Council to make sure the interests of the area are best met. A resident herself in the area for over 30 years, she understands exactly what is needed to ensure Covent Garden is at all times a wonderful place to live, work and visit. Covent Garden Community Association has strived to make Covent Garden what it is today. It is often easy to forget that among the restaurants, bars, and retail outlets the area is home to over 6,000 residents. The association has ensured that many of Covent Garden’s historic buildings are now listed and has also campaigned on numerous projects over the years including for the Seven Dials Housing Co-op, the Seven Dials Club at Covent Garden Community Centre, Phoenix Garden, and Jubilee Hall sports centre. “I am delighted,” Jo says, “but this has only come about because of the wonderful community in Covent Garden and the voluntary work we have all done together.”