Roger Lewis has been awarded the honour of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List in recognition of his voluntary service to Service Personnel and Veterans.

The official citation reads:

“Roger Lewis, Chair, Churchill Lines Foundation. For voluntary service to Service Personnel and Veterans.”

Mr Lewis is the founding Chair of the Churchill Lines Foundation, a military charity he established in 2014 to support members of the Armed Forces community. Since its inception, the Foundation has worked to provide meaningful assistance and opportunities to Service Personnel and Veterans.

In March 2026, His Majesty King Charles III became Patron of the Churchill Lines Foundation, marking a significant milestone in the charity’s development and recognition.

Commenting on the award, Mr Lewis said:

“It is a great honour to support the extraordinary men and women who serve our country. They protect and defend our freedom. I dedicate this award to them and share it with my fellow Trustees and Friends of the Churchill Lines Foundation.”

The award recognises Mr Lewis’s sustained commitment to improving the lives of those who serve and have served in the Armed Forces, and his leadership in building a charity dedicated to their welfare and support.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Roger Lewis was raised in Cefn Cribwr, a village near Bridgend, South Wales, his father a steel worker, mother a nurse. He attended the local Cynffig Comprehensive School, in Kenfig Hill, before studying music at Nottingham University.

Following University Roger Lewis went into the music business, first as a professional musician and then into radio production and onto radio and record management.

During a 30-year career in London, Roger Lewis held the positions of Head of Music at BBC Radio 1, Managing Director of EMI Records Classical Division and the EMI Premier Division, President of Decca Records and Managing Director and Programme Controller of Classic FM.

Roger Lewis returned to Wales in 2004 as Managing Director of ITV Wales. Roger Lewis was then appointed Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union and the Millennium Stadium, in office from 2006-2015.

Since his return to Wales in 2004, Roger Lewis has played an active role in the civic life of Wales, including Chairing the 2011 cross party “Yes for Wales” Referendum Campaign, Chair of the Cardiff Capital Region, Chair of the Review of the Welsh Government historic environment service, Cadw, Chair of the International Advisory Board of Cardiff University Business School, President of National Museum Wales, and Chair of Cardiff International Airport. He represented Wales on the Cabinet Office 2022 Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours, and the UK Festival 2022, “Unboxed”, which celebrated science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics across the UK, and was an independent panel member of the Wales Arts Review.

Roger Lewis has held several non-executive positions, including the Racecourse Media Group (2012 – 2023) which owns Racing TV, and which manages the media rights of the leading racecourses in the UK and Ireland. He was Chair of RMG from 2018 – 2023. Roger Lewis was also Chair of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, sat on the Board of Liverpool European Capital of Culture, was Deputy Chair of Boosey and Hawkes, and a founder partner of the Beacon Fellowship for Philanthropy.

In addition to being Chair of the Churchill Lines Foundation, Roger Lewis is a trustee of Compass for Life, a charity to assist children in disadvantaged circumstances, and is a member of a London based international advisory company. Roger Lewis is a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, the City of London Livery Company for the Communications and Content Industries.

Full details of Roger Lewis’ career are available at Roger Lewis: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogerlewiswales]

Contact details : rogerlewis1000@outlook.com

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