A day to remember at Buckingham Palace
Monday 16 December 2019
John Casson receives his MBE from Prince William
John Casson receives his MBE from Prince William
On Saturday 8 June 2019, it was announced that John Casson had been awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire) for services to charity in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
John was both shocked and delighted. In fact, to his wife Jenny’s amusement, and to his friends’ who later heard about it, he was ‘burbling’ for days.
With Jenny and friends Alan Marr and Sir Geoffrey Tantum, John went to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 26 November 2019 for his investiture.
As John now knows, Alan’s wife Vicki, a former Chief Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police, started the application process to have his charity work acknowledged. Sadly, Vicki passed away and Alan, who also served as a Police Inspector, continued the application with Sir Geoffrey, who flew from Bahrain especially for the occasion.
As John said after the investiture, ‘We had a wonderful morning at Buckingham Palace. My award was presented by Prince William, we were thrilled.’
‘Prince William could not have been nicer. He was interested in both my fundraising activities to support children and my involvement with charities relating to the tragedy of Exercise Tiger at Slapton, Devon, and the Russian Arctic convoys that left Loch Ewe in Scotland during World War Two. He engaged and was very comfortable to talk to, it all happened very formally but to perfection at Buckingham Palace in front of some 250 people. The occasion was awesome, choreographed to perfection, and Jenny looked wonderful!’
John and Jenny Casson in the courtyard at Buckingham Palace after the investiture.
If you would like to watch his investiture please contact John.
Since the announcement of his MBE last June, John has been inundated with congratulations from well over 550 people, from those connected with his charity work, to friends, institutions and organisations that he has a connection with, and well-wishers.
Remembering his reaction to the award of his MBE in June, John said, ‘I have been very fortunate to have enjoyed amazing support and generosity in my endeavours to help others. People have been so generous in so many ways. I have met many wonderful people – those helping me and those I have helped.’
For more photos of the day please see the gallery
