THE STORY OF THE BRITISH ROYAL MBE MEDAL & THE MISSION AT MK LEES IMMIGRATION

At MK Lees Immigration, we have always believed that dedication and integrity are the foundations of all success. These values have been nurtured through generations within the families of our leadership team. Today, we would like to share a moving story about the parents of CEO Murray Lees – a testament to the spirit of silent service spanning decades.

The Community Service Journey of Mr. Peter Lees & Mrs. Rosalie Lees

This journey was written by the unwavering dedication of Mr. Peter Lees and Mrs. Rosalie Lees over 15 years. With compassionate hearts, they together founded the charity Blindaid Africa, built on noble values that brought optimism and life-changing opportunities to thousands of visually impaired people across Africa.

From the vision of a devoted father

The story begins with Mr. Peter Lees – Murray’s father. After many years of working and contributing to the United Nations, upon retirement, he chose to continue serving the community rather than resting.

Recognizing the hardships of the visually impaired in Africa, he initiated a project: recording books onto cassette tapes to gift to the blind, especially the children there. And so, day after day, he tirelessly collected and purchased old recording equipment and tapes to gain more resources to help the community.

To 15 years of tireless efforts by a gentle mother

Accompanying him was Mrs. Rosalie Lees – Murray’s mother. For 15 consecutive years, she diligently read every page of numerous books, recording her voice onto thousands of cassette tapes to be sent to Africa.

Lighting the spirit for thousands of visually impaired children in Africa

Mr. Peter Lees and Mrs. Rosalie Lees worked silently and persistently every day with all their heart and love for the visually impaired community there.

Their relentless efforts brought results beyond expectations. Thousands of cassette tapes were sent to many schools for blind children across Africa.

In a context where Braille learning materials were extremely scarce at that time, these tapes were a profound source of spiritual encouragement, helping students and the visually impaired feel they were not left behind.

The Fruits of Compassion: The Story of Their Successful Adopted Son in Africa

The dedication of Mr. Peter and Mrs. Rosalie Lees extended even deeper through direct acts of love. During their charitable journey, they frequently made trips to visit and speak directly with visually impaired children in Africa. Notably, the Lees family adopted Latim – a visually impaired boy from the region.

Thanks to the love and education from the family, Latim has now grown up to become a Lecturer at a prestigious University in his own homeland.

Despite having many opportunities to move to the United Kingdom, he chose to stay and continue his parents’ legacy: contributing knowledge and building the community in Africa. This stands as the most vivid testament to the power of education and compassion.

The MBE Title: A Prestigious Recognition from the British Royal Family

Beyond the borders of spontaneous charitable activities, the decades of dedication by Mr. Peter & Mrs. Rosalie Lees created far-reaching impacts, touching the hearts of millions. It was this tireless spirit of service that led to the most formal National-level recognition from the British Royal Family.

Honoring Devoted Service at Buckingham Palace

In 2001, these silent yet extraordinary contributions were recognized by the British Royal Family. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II decided to award the prestigious MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) to Mrs. Rosalie Lees at Buckingham Palace to honor the couple’s tireless journey of community service.

A noble symbol of devotion and Royal tradition

The MBE medal represents honor and prestigious recognition for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society. According to the traditional etiquette of the British Royal Family, this is a Noble Award of symbolic importance, held with honor by the recipient during their lifetime. Later, after Mrs. Rosalie Lees passed away, the medal is returned to the Royal Family as a way of preserving and continuing the eternal legacy of its values.

Blindaid Africa – A Mission of Lighting the Path of Knowledge Preserved

To fulfill their wish to help the visually impaired in Africa, Peter and Rosalie Lees operated the charitable organization known as Blindaid Africa. The educational support equipment that they gifted served as a “second pair of eyes,” helping them overcome insecurities and confidently integrate into society.

While the organization has now fulfilled its historic mission, those humanitarian values remain fully preserved in the family’s digital archives:
👉 View the Blindaid Africa website here (2003 Archive)

The Spirit of MK Lees Immigration

The charitable journey of his parents serves as the “guiding star” for CEO Murray Lees in leading MK Lees Immigration. We do not merely assist with migration procedures; we are working with you to realize life-changing dreams with heart, integrity, and deep understanding.

We believe that every individual deserves an opportunity to change their future, just as Murray’s parents once lit the path of knowledge for Latim and thousands of visually impaired children in Africa.