Ranjit Singh Sohal (Ran) Celebrating a Lifetime of Business, Innovation, Education, Literature and Community Service.
Ranjit Singh Sohal, affectionately known as Ran, has been nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Walsall Business & Community Awards 2026, recognising more than five decades of contribution to business, education, innovation, literature and community life.
A physicist, educator, entrepreneur, inventor, author, poet and community advocate, Ran has spent much of his life contributing to Walsall, the town he proudly calls home. Born into Sikh Punjabi family in a traditional Jatt family in 1953, Ran came to Britain as a young 10 year old boy during the 1960s. His journey from a small Punjabi village to becoming an established member of Walsall’s educational and business communities reflects a lifetime of determination, ambition, independence and enterprise.
A Lifetime of Achievement
1. Academic Excellence and Education
Ran graduated from Aston University with a BSc (Honours) in Physics and an MSc in Field Emission. He subsequently obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and a Diploma in Management and Education.
In 1975, he was offered the opportunity to pursue doctoral research at Aston University but chose to follow a career in education and enterprise.
2. Over 30 Years in Teaching
Between 1976 and 2007, Ran worked in Further and Higher Education, principally at Walsall College, teaching physics and helping generations of students develop their scientific understanding, qualifications and careers.
His commitment to education has remained an important part of his philosophy throughout his working life.
3. A Pioneer of Walsall’s Hospitality Industry
In 1978, Ran established Balloons Wine Bar and Bistro in Ablewell Street, which he describes as Walsall’s first wine bar.
Alongside Shimla Peppers restaurant, the premises became a familiar part of Walsall’s hospitality scene.
His association with Ablewell Street now spans nearly 50 years, reflecting a longstanding commitment to local business and the town centre.
4. Inventor, Entrepreneur and Technological Innovator
Through Magiled Ltd, Ran has designed and developed lighting products, specialist LED systems and energy-related technologies.
His invention Flexiled was featured on the BBC television programme Dragons’ Den, bringing his entrepreneurial work to a national audience.
His technological activities have included specialist LED products supplied for Ministry of Defence applications, carbon-crystal far-infrared heating technology and collaborative work on energy-efficient heating systems.
Ran reports involvement in more than 50 UK intellectual property registrations and inventions.
5. Leadership in Business and Education
Beyond his own enterprises, Ran has contributed to organisations supporting businesses, education and economic development across the Black Country.
His positions have included:
• Chairman of the Black Country Asian Business Association ( BCABA)
• Non-Executive Director of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce.
• Board member of the Black Country Further Education Council.
His involvement has reflected a commitment to equality of opportunity, business participation, education and community representation.
6. Championing Walsall’s Heritage
Ran has become a vocal advocate for protecting Walsall’s historic buildings, particularly around Ablewell Street, St Matthew’s Church and the town centre.
As a longstanding property owner and businessman, he has called for greater cooperation between Walsall Council, elected representatives, property owners and businesses to restore neglected historic streets and strengthen the local economy. 7. Reimagining Walsall Arboretum
Among his current initiatives is a proposal to recreate the spirit of Walsall Illuminations through modern lighting technology, science, art and educational installations.
The concept aims to celebrate Walsall Arboretum’s natural beauty while creating attractions for families, supporting tourism, encouraging local employment and promoting sustainable technology.
8. Supporting the Regeneration of Walsall
Ran also advocates a wider vision for the regeneration of Walsall, encompassing Park Street, the historic town centre, public spaces, cultural attractions and local enterprise. He believes that heritage, innovation and commercial development can work together to restore civic pride and build a vibrant future for the borough.
9. Author, Poet and Creative Writer – Deception by Trust
Beyond science, education and business, Ran is an author and poet with a strong interest in human behaviour, philosophy, morality and the complexities of life.
His book, Deception by Trust – A True Story of Life, Adventure, Betrayal and the Search for Justice, is an autobiographical account encompassing his extraordinary life experiences, including his adventurous overland journey towards Northern India in the 1970s.
The book takes readers through the experiences of a young man who left his birthplace in Punjab, grew up in Britain and later embarked upon an ambitious overland journey back towards the land of his birth.(1977)
His travels brought encounters with different countries, cultures, people and unexpected challenges, including the difficulties of crossing international borders and navigating unfamiliar systems.
The narrative moves beyond adventure to explore family relationships, personal sacrifice, misplaced trust and the painful consequences of alleged deception surrounding family property and inheritance.
At its heart, Deception by Trust examines a fundamental question: What happens when the trust placed in others becomes the very instrument through which a person feels betrayed?
It is a personal story of determination, resilience and the pursuit of truth and justice. Alongside his autobiographical writing, Ran has developed a passion for poetry, using verse to reflect upon compassion, humanity, migration, identity, hope, love, peace and the contradictions of human nature.
His writing combines a scientific mind with philosophical curiosity and an appreciation of the emotional experiences that shape our lives.
For Ran, literature and poetry offer another way of questioning accepted ideas, examining the human condition and encouraging society to value honesty, kindness and mutual respect.
A Commitment Beyond Business
Ran’s achievements extend beyond his academic qualifications and commercial activities. He believes that education, fairness, mutual respect, opportunity and freedom of thought are fundamental to a successful society.
Having made Walsall his working home for more than five decades, he remains passionate about ensuring that future generations inherit a town with a strong identity, thriving businesses and a proud sense of community.
Looking to the Future
At 73, Ran continues to develop ideas and advocate projects that combine technology, education, heritage, literature and economic regeneration.
His enthusiasm for science, enterprise and creative expression remains undiminished, and his interest in the future of Walsall continues to motivate his work.
His nomination for the Walsall Business & Community Awards 2026 offers an opportunity to recognise an individual whose contribution spans the classroom, business community, technological innovation, literature and civic life.
For Ranjit Singh Sohal, Walsall is more than a place to live or conduct business. It is his hometown, his community and a place whose future he cares deeply about. His life reflects a simple but enduring belief:
Achievement is not measured merely by personal success, but by the knowledge we share, the opportunities we create and the contribution we make to the lives of others.
Ranjit Singh Sohal (Ran)
Physicist | Educator | Entrepreneur | Inventor | Author | Poet | Community Advocate
