From Honour to Celebration: My MBE Journey
From Honour to Celebration: My MBE Journey
There are moments in life that feel quietly surreal—ones you try to take in fully, knowing they will stay with you forever. Receiving an MBE In the King’s New Years Honours List was one of those moments! But it wasn’t just about the honour itself; it was everything it represented—the people, the stories, the hard work over the years…
The day of my investiture at Windsor Castle is one I will never forget. Walking through the historic grounds, with centuries of tradition all around, accompanied by my husband, a dear friend of 40+ years and of course our very own Phillippa Chapman, I felt a profound sense of emotion and humility, along with being deeply grateful I could share this with those closest to me. This recognition was never about me alone—it belonged to the entire encephalitis community: the patients and families who have shown extraordinary resilience, the clinicians and researchers pushing boundaries, and the supporters who believe so passionately in our work.
At each point, everyone we met made us feel sincerely special and welcome. Inside the castle the atmosphere was both grand and deeply personal. We were allowed to explore various rooms and incredible, historic paintings as we headed on to a room to wait and reflect. When my name was called, there was a brief moment where time seemed to pause and I welled again with emotion. It felt as if this was the moment I realised that every breath, tear and hard graft I had committed to over the last 26 years was recognised. As I stepped forward to receive the honour, I bowed and approach Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, and I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride – for the journey, for the people who have walked it with me, and for the opportunity to continue advocating for those affected by encephalitis. I spent some time talking with Her Royal Highness about our work before my time was up and I was able to walk over and rejoin my companions who had stood proudly watching my special moment. They all told me later a tear or two were shed!
The following day brought a very different, but equally special, kind of celebration.
We gathered in the beautiful music room at Killik & Co in Mayfair for a drinks reception, generously hosted for around 100 guests. Again I stepped into a majestic room where once the likes of Strauss and Debussy had played. If the investiture was a moment of reflection, this was a moment of connection and joy. Looking around the room, I was struck by the incredible mix of people who had come together—survivors and their families, scientists, clinicians, colleagues, and supporters from across so many parts of my life.
What made the evening so meaningful was not just the setting, but the shared purpose that united everyone there. Speeches were given by our President Professor Tom Solomon CBE, our Chair Gagun Gahir and I also provided a short retrospective on my journey to this point. Champagne and conversations flowed, and there was a genuine sense of community and I felt a deep joy for me – I don’t think I had ever had a moment before in my life where I looked out and every single person in that room was in equal parts both proud, and deeply happy for me.
I was especially touched to see individuals who had been personally affected by encephalitis standing alongside those working tirelessly behind the scenes in research, healthcare, and advocacy. It was a powerful reminder that while our roles may differ, our goal is the same: to save lives and improve outcomes.
The event would not have been possible without the generosity of Killik & Co, along with the support of Moore Barlow, and I am deeply grateful for their continued commitment and belief in me and our work.
As I reflect on those two days—one steeped in tradition, the other in celebration—I am reminded that honours like this are not an endpoint. They are a milestone, yes, but also a renewed call to action. I feel more motivated than ever to continue this journey, alongside an extraordinary community, working towards a future where encephalitis is better understood, better treated, and ultimately, prevented.
There is still so much to do….and we cannot do it without you and your support.