Many thanks to Alan for sharing this news and congratulations to Suzanne, Gill and Graham. All very well deserved honours. Ed
Six months after the initial notification Island resident Suzanne Whitewood has been presented with her MBE at Buckingham Palace. At an investiture hosted by HM The Queen, 95 recipients were awarded their Honours in an hour long ceremony.
Born in Ventnor, Suzanne became the town’s first Queen’s Guide and later the first female on the Island to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award.
Return to the Palace, 45 years on
It was almost 45 years to the day since Suzanne attended Buckingham Palace for that presentation accompanied then by her parents, Hilda and Wilfred (Jim) Lambert and well known Ventnor resident, Rene Howe.
This time around Suzanne was accompanied by her husband of 40 years, Alan and friends Patricia Partridge (President of Girlguiding IW) and lifelong friend Catherine Warner who was also born at Ventnor.
Admiring the surroundings
After clearing security checks recipients and their guests were directed through the central arch at the front of the Palace to the inner courtyard. Once inside everyone was relatively free to admire the architecture, paintings and artefacts under the watchful eyes of the Household Cavalry.
On climbing the grand staircase recipients were directed to the glass domed Green Drawing Room for a briefing whilst guests made their way to the Palace Ballroom. Before the arrival of the Queen at 11am precisely, music was provided by the Orchestra of the Band of the Life Guards. Five Yeoman of the Guard, standing on the dais provided the Queen’s personal Body Guard.
Her Majesty was accompanied by the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl Peel and two Gurkha Orderly Officers – a tradition begun in 1876 by Queen Victoria. Guests remained standing for the National Anthem after which the Queen requested the audience to be seated.
Knighthoods led the way
One by one, the recipients filed into the ballroom. Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England and Sir Henry Cecil, well known racehorse trainer, were Knighted by Her Majesty in the first phase of presentations.
Suzanne’s turn came at 11.40am with Her Majesty well briefed on her achievements they spoke about The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Girlguiding of which HM Queen is the Patron.
Other Island MBEs
With the ceremonial part of the investiture concluded Her Majesty took her leave by walking through the rows of guests. Recipients and their guests were then free to mingle in the inner courtyard before departure.
Two other Island residents received their MBEs on the same day – Gillian Kennett from West Wight for Services to Healthcare on the Island and Captain Graham Hall for services To Bembridge Lifeboat and other maritime organisations.
