MBEs for Cambridge taxi boss Nemer, who gave free rides to NHS frontline workers

A Cambridge-based taxi operator who drove NHS staff to and from work for free, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Camcab owner Rowhi Nemer, 63, offered the services of his company free of charge to frontline NHS and Air Ambulance staff in the first Coronavirus lockdown last March.

Nemer said he had re-mortgaged his property in order to keep his staff working and paid. He said: “To be honest, I’ve been doing this sort of charity work for 30 years – it’s how I was brought up. I can’t feel great inside unless I do something good on the outside,” adding that the award of an MBE was “very special for me, my family and people I work with”.

Nemer is a popular figure in the trade. Writing on LinkedIn, industry consultant Dr Mike Galvin said: “Rowhi works tirelessly in big and small ways for charity – the Magpas Air Ambulance is a particular focus for him but he does so much for so many. During the Covid crisis he has been energised completely to assist and support the NHS. CamCab is an amazing business and reflects Rowhi’s community spirit.”