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Local Philanthropist celebrated at Discovery Museum
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People in image (names L-R) Purnima Sehgal, Aaryan Sehgal, Veena Sehgal, Kiran Sehgal, Jai sehgal, Robin Sehgal
Local businessman and philanthropist, Michael Sehgal, is celebrated in a new display at Discovery Museum, Newcastle, to commemorate his life’s achievements and dedication to the local community.
Michael Sehgal (1938-2013) came to the North East from his home town of Jallandhar City, India in 1958. His story has taken him from his first job in England as a bus driver to receiving an MBE at Buckingham Palace and he has touched the lives of thousands of North East people along the way.
Mr Sehgal first took a job driving buses after moving to the UK and frequently worked 18 hour days, giving up his own dream of an education to support his brother, Jagiri, who was studying in London.
In 1963, Mr Sehgal decided to go into the clothing business with his brothers, selling clothes door to door before establishing a wholesale operation. Just a few short years later Mr Sehgal and his wife opened up their first shop in Wallsend. Sehgal and Sons remains one of the region’s leading school uniform wholesalers and retailers.
Mr Sehgal also dedicated a huge amount of his life to charitable work, which is celebrated in the display at Discovery Museum. In 1981, he played a leading role in establishing the city’s Hindu Temple. He was also a major contributor to charities such as the Percy Hedley Foundation, Friends of the NSPCC and St Oswald’s Hospice.
Thanks to his passion for education, he set up the ‘Michael Sehgal Charitable Trust’, providing further education scholarships to students with little or no means, which is still supporting young people today.
The display, housed in the Destination Tyneside Gallery at Discovery Museum, brings together a number of objects that represent Mr Sehgal’s journey and accomplishments giving visitors an insight into the world of a man who gave everything to his community. Included are family photographs, a selection of awards and medals as well as his MBE.
He received his award in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2005 in recognition of his services to the community in the North East over many years.
The Sehgal family were invited to a special event at Discovery Museum to see the display for the first time.
Carolyn Ball, Discovery Museum Manager said,
“It’s a privilege to welcome the Sehgal family to Discovery Museum and celebrate the great work Michael Sehgal did during his life.
“His hard work and values are an exemplary way of living and his legacy continues to endorse his commitment and selflessness towards the community.”
Mr Sehgal’s daughter-in-law Penny Sehgal said,
“The display is a superb way of encapsulating our father’s inspirational life, providing a very personal insight into his journey from bus driver to Member of the British Empire and is brought to life through a number of ways, which show Dad at his best.
“As a family, we could not be more delighted with the display and would like to thank the staff at Discovery Museum for their efforts. We hope that others will enjoy it and find it as inspiring as we do.”
The commemorative display will be on show in Destination Tyneside until 24 February 2015.
Destination Tyneside explores the lives of families from across the world who have settled on Tyneside over the past 200 years. Mr Sehgal’s story is just one of the many fascinating tales that are told in a variety of ways in the gallery including the My Tyneside Wall
The My Tyneside Wall is a permanent display of individual or family names, which includes Michael Sehgal. The wall is designed to reflect a sense of pride in people’s heritage on Tyneside. For more information please visit www.discoverymuseum.org.uk/my-tyneside-wall.