Former Lord Mayor Michael Bear has been knighted by Her Majestythe Queen for services to regeneration, charity and the City ofLondon.

Sir Michael " the first Lord Mayor from both a property andengineering background - was elected Lord Mayor for the yearNovember 2010 to November 2011 and served with his wifeBarbara.

Sir Michael and Lady Bear were both born in Africa and thatcontinent figured significantly in his year. He led many overseasdelegations around the globe as Lord Mayor on behalf of UK-basedbusiness, visiting 23 countries including major fast-growingcountries such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and the Gulfstates.

As Lord Mayor of the City of London and ambassador for theUK-based financial services and business sector, he also receivednumerous visiting ministerial delegations and those at head ofgovernment and head of state level.

Sir Michael"s wide-ranging voluntary work also started in Africawith community projects in the South African Townships during theapartheid era.

He said: 'I feel greatly honoured and would like to thank mywife Barbara, our family, and all those many friends and colleaguesfor the immense support given me.

'As an engineer you have a great chance to make a tangibledifference to people"s lives and create prosperity, growth and jobs" and I would encourage any young person to take up the profession;it will take you around the world."'I was an unusual Lord Mayor in being a client of City services" someone from the demand side " and I hope I have made a smallcontribution to showing how construction, engineering and financecan work together to regenerate cities and build the infrastructureof development."Sir Michael"s distinguished career has seen him work around theworld on many major infrastructure and regeneration projects.

President of the Institution of Civil Engineers Richard Coackleysaid: "We"d like to warmly congratulate Michael on his Knighthood,which is well-deserved recognition not only for his work as LordMayor, but for his long-serving contribution to the constructionindustry. '"From his leadership of successful inner-city regenerationprojects to his dedication to large scale disaster-relieffundraising campaigns, Michael sets a fantastic example for a newgeneration of budding engineers. He has shown real commitment tothe crucial role civil engineering plays in society and serves asan inspiration for the profession."Sir Michael was made an honorary fellow of the Institution ofCivil Engineers last year for his services to civil engineering andhe is also a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyorsand honorary fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. His LordMayor"s appeal was for the children"s charity Coram and theRegister of Engineers for Disaster Relief 'RedR".

Two long-serving officers of the City Corporation were honouredwith MBEs: Fred Woodhams, 59, a lab technician at the City ofLondon School for Boys for 40 years, was honoured for services toyoung people after voluntarily helping young people from both theschool and Peckham " for decades - take part in the cadet force,teaching them leadership skills and encouraging them to maximisetheir potential. Paul Eskriett, 62, was also awarded the MBE forservices to local government after a long and distinguished careerwith both the police and at the City"s Guildhall where he wasresponsible for managing the City"s preparedness in the event ofterrorist or other attack.