The co-founder of Purplebricks Kenny Bruce has become an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Bruce, who founded the online agency eight years ago with his brother Michael, was recognised for “services to charity and the community” in his home town of Larne in County Antrim, and the wider area.
Bruce, who owns of Larne Football Club, turned down the offer of a Freeman of the Borough honour earlier this year – saying it should go to the people of the town instead.
He said: “I was completely blown away when I received notification that I was to receive an MBE and I really am so humbled. Anything I have done for Larne FC and the surrounding community has simply been my way of giving back, because this town has given me so much in my lifetime.”
Bruce is one of the founders of Boomin, a new property that will attempt to shake up the dominance of property websites Rightmove and Zoopla.
So far, Boomin, which is due to launch imminently, has recruited a workforce of more than 100 people, including 60 technology specialists, the company said.
The new venture is expected to offer a broader range of services than existing online property portals, according to Michael Bruce.
Kenny and Michael Bruce have established Boomin with Purplebricks’ other co-founder, David Shepherd.
Meanwhile, property developer Tony Gallagher has received a knighthood for “services to land development and the property business”.
Gallagher, who once hosted David Cameron’s 50th birthday party at his 17th-century mansion in Oxfordshire, is also a major Tory donor, having donated almost £750,000 to the Conservative Party.
He is among a host of property developers who have donated more than £11m to the Conservatives under the existing leadership.
Property developer contributions now make up nearly a quarter of the £47.5m in donations received by the party from last July up until March, up from just 7.9% of the total two years ago.
Comments (15)
Did anyone warm Marc about what he was letting himself in for????/
Only worthy if the acronym is for Massive Bell ….etc
That made me smile!
As for those saying that smile please is equating Saville’s offences with Bruce – WRONG! The comparison is in the awarding of an honour suggesting the honoursb system is at fault. Stop being so woke!
If it had been for his Purplebricks involvement would the citation have read:
‘For services to large numbers of home sellers who paid their money but didn’t actually sell their homes’?
Sporting Ken having indulged himself like a Lottery winner cashing in some chips buying his local football club gets honoured . The Honours system convenientally forgetting the unholy mess left behind at Bricks and failed overseas jaunts carrying the UK banner
What price success ?
Now with a string of racehorses with Sumo Quinn perhaps a knighthood is beckoning ?
I guess they can’t get it right everytime. Saville got a knighthood.
that is unnecessary !
Disgusting comment – shame on you !
Don’t listen to them. This comment is great.
Cost thr NHS millions in lost tax as well.
This comment should be taken down, whether you believe the honour to be wrong or you believe that he has damaged the industry (a view I share) the connotation, which I am sure you are aware of, is dreadful.
For the sake of clarity (not i feel i need to).
All i have said is they get it wrong from time to time. I believe the Bruce boy getting an MBE is wrong same way Saville was wrong to get one and numerous others.
Any comparison anyone is making between Bruce and Saville is down to them.
All you WOKE individuals can find something else to be offended by now.
You could have used any number of examples to illustrate your point though; you chose Saville knowing the connation.
Woke btw is such a lazy term and doesn’t even apply here; snowflake maybe would be apt.
One could argue that an exaggerated analogy, one that defies connection, is less offensive that one that’s uncomfortably close to the mark.
On what basis should this comment be taken down, because it offends you? I find the comment/suggestion that ”this comment should be taken down”…quite offensive. However, I respect your right to hold and communicate your own opinion (as we all should).
Let’s gently dismount from our high horses…