Upper Bucklebury former sub-postmaster wins community award

A former Upper Bucklebury sub-postmaster has been recognised at an awards ceremony for Britain’s most influential ethnic minorities.

Sixty-three-year-old Hasmukh ‘Hash’ Shingadia made headlines in 2011 when he was targeted in the ongoing national Post Office scandal, which saw more than 700 sub-postmasters handed bogus charges and prison sentences for theft and fraud due to a faulty IT system.

His conviction was overturned in July 2021 after a ten-year legal struggle.

And now, Mr Shingadia has been awarded for his unwavering commitment to his community throughout his ordeal — and the pandemic.

The Asian Media Group — billed as Britain’s biggest Asian publishing house — invited Mr Shingadia to attend its 25th annual GG2 Leadership and Diversity Awards after reading his interview with newburytoday in January, which it circulated amongst its Asian titles and readership.

Mr Shingadia attended an awards dinner with his wife, Chandrika, and daughter along with some 800 guests on Tuesday, March 5, at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London, where he received the ‘Spirit in the Community Award’.

“It was brilliant, we are really happy,” Mr Shingadia said after the event. “It was a nice achievement, which we got for carrying on regardless.”

Three other wronged sub-postmasters also received the award: Vijay Parekh, Vipin Patel and Seema Misra.

Mr Shingadia has run Peach's Stores in Upper Bucklebury for 25 years, where he still lives with his wife and family.

The awards celebrate the country’s most “enterprising and talented achievers” in the fields of politics, business and the public sector.