BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NEWS coming out of England states that Kittitian-born Denzil Hart is among 965 people who were awarded by Queen Elizabeth II in her Birthday Honours List this year.
Hart was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his voluntary service to grass roots football in the North West and, according to his wife Kathryn, he would be presented with a medal at a ceremony to be held at St. James Palace in London later in the year.
According to the Lancashire Telegraph, Hart, an ex-manager of the Colne Dynamoes Football Club, was involved in its reform back in 1996 and stayed there until 2000.
The media house also stated that the Club’s Chairman, Dave Blacklock, who was there during Hart’s tenure, expressed his happiness for the Kittitian’s achievement.
“It is fantastic. I am delighted for him. He is a very hard working and enthusiastic man who always puts in no less than 110 percent,” Blacklock said.
His wife told SKNVibes that her husband had used football as a tool in mentoring and guiding many residents in the most deprived and disadvantaged areas in Manchester.
Denzil has excelled in the area of mentoring and guiding young children, youths and adults into positive pathways, using sport (mainly football) as the tool for over 30 years. He has worked tirelessly to remove barriers between different cultures in the most deprived and disadvantaged areas of Manchester.
“His leadership qualities have earned him the respect of parents, teachers, councillors and chief executives etc., and many people showed their support by nominating him for the MBE,” Kathryn spoke of her husband.
She noted that he had played (semi-professionally), managed and coached football and has affected many people in a positive way over the years.
“He even played for Blackburns FC when down in St. Kitts for a short spell in 1986. Some of those guys may remember him as the footballer they nicknamed ‘English’,” she added.
She also told this publication that her husband is very humbled to receive the award and he firstly gave thanks to God, his family, friends and associates for all their kind support and well wishes.
Hart was born in 1957 and is the eldest son of Richard and Enid Hart who, prior to their death, were residing at Lamberts, St. Kitts.
As an infant, Hart lived in Middle Island and at the age of three was taken to Manchester, England where he gained his primary, secondary and college education and became a certified motor mechanic.
He was involved in football from a very early age and later played the game at the semi-professional level.
In addition to his stint with Colne Dynamoes Football Club, Hart was employed as coach/manager at Macclesfield Town Centre of Excellence and Manchester United Football Club.
In 1966, he started his own sports club – Warth Fold & Redvales Community Sports Club – and while there had coached hundreds of children; some of whom emerged as semi-professionals and professionals playing for English clubs.
Hart has a number of football qualifications under his belt, including the Union of European Football Associations’ Level Four. He is also qualified in Construction Management and youth work.
Denzil ‘English’ Hart has indicated to SKNVibes that he is very proud of his Kittitian roots and journeys with his family to his homeland whenever possible.
The Queen’s Birthday Honours is a civic occasion on the celebration of her official birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named.
Queen Elizabeth II turned 85 in April this year and has been reigning since 1952.
