Glass lover named MBE for keeping the industry’s heritage alive

When Dudley Council closed Broadfield House for financial reasons, Mr Knowles was among those who stepped in to protect this heritage.

About 10,000 items are now kept at the new museum, which opened in 2022.

The 78-year-old, who is chief executive of the Hulbert family group, has enjoyed a long career in business and was a director of a group that developed The Mailbox in Birmingham.

But he is also passionate about heritage and told the BBC it was vital that the Black Country’s glassmaking history was preserved for future generations.

“Every family in the Stourbridge area would have a friend or colleague who was in the glass industry,” he said.

“It was huge. We were the best glassmakers in the world at the turn of the century and I think it’s important to respect that heritage, preserve it for the future and celebrate it.”