Since the announcement of my MBE in the New Years Honours List many of my fellow parishioners at St Columbas have been most generous in their congratulations and this has added enormously to the enjoyment that Anne and I have experienced in having such an honour bestowed. So when I was asked to write a small piece about it, I was more than pleased to share some of the details.
Why me?
The first I knew of the possibility that the Prime Minister had it in mind to recommend the granting of an award was mid November last year. Anne often brings my bits of post down to my office at home and drops it on the desk for me to attend to later but on that day in November she had noticed a particularly expensive envelope with a crest at the top. She was intrigued and wanted to be present when I opened it. I asked her to open it for me. Her face was a picture as she took read the contents. I was completely incredulous. Why me? Why not all those other people, we know, who are so much more deserving. Why, if either of us, should it be me and not Anne? It just didn’t make sense. She does all the real caring for our foster children, she excels at making our rather unusual family function so well. She makes it possible for me to get involved in other charity activities. Even when she was seriously ill a few years ago she encouraged me to continue as the national chairman of Action for Sick Children. No it had to be a mistake and initially I was flattered but determined to turn the honour down.
My initial decision lasted all of one minute as Anne made it perfectly clear that I would return the enclosed form accepting the honour or go without any “privileges” for a considerable time. Anyone who has tasted Anne’s lasagne will know that such a threat should not to be taken lightly and so I demurred and the form was duly returned. Yes I’m very shallow.
Press coverage, and a clean shirt
I thought that the list would be printed on New Years Day and so was quite shocked to receive a telephone call the day before New Years Eve from the newspapers. They had been sent an embargoed list to give them a chance to speak to the recipients and they wanted to come around straight away with a photographer. Anne and Laura took me in hand immediately and a suitable shirt was chosen for the photographs. I’m glad that they insisted that I change because an awful lot of people have since told me they saw my photograph in the local press. I’ve had quite a few compliments on the coffee mug that I was holding as well.
As word spread that my name had been added to the Honours List the congratulations came thick and fast. Interestingly most of our friends and family would follow their initial comment with ‘but why you and not Anne ?’ All that I could say was yes exactly my point, but Anne was extremely generous and insisted that whichever of us had been named in the award, it was ours to share and gradually that it is exactly how we came to view it.
‘Bow from the neck, walk up to the Queen’
The actual investiture took place at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 9th February. Laura came home from university for the day and Anne’s Mum joined the three of us as we drove up to London. I had decided to opt for the full morning suit and felt like a proverbial penguin. The day was bright crisp and cold with a biting wind, as we drew up in front of the gates of Buckingham Palace. The impact of the grandeur upon us was huge. Officers from the horse guards lined the corridors resplendent in their shining armour and glittering swords. Recipients were soon parted as guests were shown straight into the grand ballroom. We all gathered in the portrait gallery and chatted nervously. Kick off was due at 10.00am sharp and at 9.45am an equerry entered the room and gave us a detailed briefing of what to expect. We all listened attentively, none of us wishing to make a mistake in front of the Queen. It all seemed fairly easy; while the person in front of me in the queue received their medal, I was to proceed to a holding spot adjacent to a member of the royal household and a matter of feet away and at right angles to the Queen. Once the person in front of me moved away my name was to be announced and all I had to do was take three steps forward, turn to my left, bow from the neck, walk up to the Queen, receive the medal on my lapel, chat for a moment, shake her hand when offered, take a few steps backwards, bow and exit stage right.
All went fairly well except that I forgot the initial bow before approaching Her Majesty and only remembered as I got nearer to her. My brain screamed at me not to bother now, as I was too close; I might head butt her. She didn’t seem to notice my mistake and we chatted amicably until her hand came up for the parting shake. I felt the royal hand grip mine and ever so gently push at the same time. It was time to leave and I stepped sharply backwards, nodded and exited to the sound of my heart pounding.
‘..and then I remembered I was still wearing my penguin suit..’
I was shown to a seat with the other recipients at the back of the grand ballroom and watched as the England cricket team entered four at a time and received their awards. Some of them looked decidedly nervous, despite my best efforts at calming them with chit chat in the retiring room before the ceremony. I thoroughly enjoyed giving them some good homespun cricketing advice (and you can write what I know about cricket on a pin head).
Anne and I had decided this was a once in a lifetime occasion and so we agreed to push the boat out and book lunch at the Savoy Grill for the after ceremony celebration. Our party arrived half an hour late for our booking and when I apologised, the restaurant manager responded by saying that the Queen always runs half an hour over, the allocated time while Prince Charles generally finishes half an hour early. I thought what a lovely insight, or was he just being charming. How did he know where we had been? And then I remembered I was still wearing my penguin suit; was gripping my medal tightly and we all had grins from ear to ear.
Having such an honour is a truly marvellous life experience and I am sincerely grateful to those who nominated me and who supported the nomination with references. Anne and I are truly humbled to have been recognised for what we find to be a rewarding family life.
Noel Brownsell