Magic Bus chairman gets 'Member of British Empire'

LONDON: Mumbai-based Matthew Spacie, Chairman and founder of Magic Bus UK, a charity which is doing yeomen service for the welfare of children in Mumbai, has been awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) this year.

Matthew, a UK citizen with residency status in India, lives with his wife in Mumbai.

He first came to India in 1986 and worked as a volunteer with the Sisters of Charity in Kolkata.

Following his graduation and a number of management positions in the UK, he was posted to India ten years later as the Chief Operating Officer for Cox & Kings, then India's largest travel company.

In February 1999, Matthew initiated the Magic Bus, working with children from the Akanksha Foundation.

Having played international rugby for India, he used this as his platform to start the sports programme for Magic Bus.

Matthew resigned from his job in 2001 and now works full-time for Magic Bus.

In July 2002, he was awarded with the Ashoka Fellowship.