YCCC Museum benefactor honoured by the Queen

Honoured by the Queen: Dr Keith Howard, who has been awarded the OBE, is flanked by Yorkshire Cricket Museum Director David Hall at the museum's official opening on March 18

Congratulations to philanthropist Dr Keith Howard, pictured foreground opening the Yorkshire Cricket Museum in March, who has been awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to business, sport and the arts in West Yorkshire.

Dr Howard is chairman of the trustees of the Emerald Foundation, which financed the construction of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club Museum at Headingley Carnegie, and it was he who cut the tape at the opening ceremony on March 18.

The Yorkshire Cricket Foundation and Leeds Rugby Foundation are generously supported by Emerald - who also back the performing arts, particularly Opera North, and they contributed to the redevelopment and renovation of the Grand Theatre in Leeds.

Dr Howard said when he opened the museum that he had played cricket in the local leagues for 40 years, and he was glad to be able to put something back into the sport he loved.

Emerald Foundation is the charitable arm of Emerald, based in Bingley, which is a leading publisher in its field with 260 employees at its headquarters and 60 in 10 offices overseas.