To date, Ocean has sold over 30 million albums. He migrated to England at the age of seven and went on to become the biggest black recording artist out of the UK in the 80a. Known globally as Billy Ocean, Leslie Sebastian Charles has been appointed the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to music.Ĭharles was born and grew up in La Brea, South Trinidad. In 2000 he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by the Queen for services to drama.

He also received the Shakespeare Prize in 2000 and the Lifetime Achievement award from the Directors Guild of Great Britain in 2005. Known for films such as American Beauty, Jarhead, Road to Perdition and Skyfall, among others, Mendes has received a plethora of awards in his career including five Olivier Awards, three Tony awards, three Evening Standard awards, two BAFTAs, a Golden Globe, and several Critics Circle awards, starting in 1989 with the award for Best Newcomer, for directing Judi Dench in The Cherry Orchard. Mendes is the son of Trinidadian James Peter Mendes and British mother Valarie Helene Mendes who got divorced when he was five. Mendes, real name Samuel Alexander Mendes has been appointed the Knights Bachelor Knighthoods for his services in Theatre and Film Directing. Floella is the first Caribbean person to receive the order, but she is sure she won't be the last.Four people of Trinidadian heritage who have distinguished themselves in the United Kingdom have been honoured by the Queen of England.įilmmaker Sam Mendes, Baroness Floella Benjamin, singer Billy Ocean and actor Rudolph Walker are among those who have been listed for 2020 New Year’s honours. In 2022, it was one of Her Majesty the Queen’s last wishes to appoint Floella the prestigious Order of Merit, which is held by only twenty-four people. What Are You Doing Here? is her first adult autobiography, after previously writing her classic memoir Coming to England and acclaimed Sea of Tears. She was also appointed Chancellor of the University of Exeter until 2016. The book was adapted into an award-winning film for BBC Education. Floella has written thirty books, including Coming to England, which is used as a resource in schools in social and cross-curricular areas. Barrie Award by Action for Children's Arts, for her lasting contribution to children's lives through her art. In 2012 she was presented with the prestigious J. She was appointed a Baroness in the House of Lords in 2010. Her broadcasting work has been recognized with a Special Lifetime Achievement BAFTA and OBE. She is best known as a presenter of the iconic BBC children's television programmes Play School and Play Away, and she continues to make children's programmes. She is an actress, presenter, writer, producer, working peer and an active advocate for the welfare and education of children. Baroness Floella Benjamin, OBE, was born in Trinidad in 1949 and came to England in 1960.

Sea of Tears by Floella Benjamin