On a cold spring morning in Windsor, Colonel Anthony Kimber and his wife Elizabeth, daughter Amy and son Tom, took the short walk from their hotel to the Castle to receive the award of MBE, for “services to the community in Rye and East Sussex”.
There is a particular hush that settles over Windsor Castle on investiture day. Beneath painted ceilings and centuries-old stone, ordinary people step forward to receive extraordinary recognition.
Investitures remind us that recognition does not belong only to the famous. Across Sussex and places like Rye there are countless individuals whose quiet contributions shape daily life, from community groups to coastal volunteers and all those who turn up week after week without expectation of reward.
When the Kimber family arrived at the Castle there had been no prior notification of who might be the host, but at the King Henry VIII gate to the Lower Ward of the Castle, an official welcomed them with, “Do you want to know who is here this morning?” At that stage it was announced that the Prince of Wales was on duty.
The Kimbers passed through several security checks and initial reception in the State Rooms of the Upper Ward. Everywhere was richly decorated and hung with Old Masters. There was ample time to study the decoration and take in the views over the North Terrace to Eton.
As the 65 recipients, with their guests, progressed through the numerous State rooms, there were occasional announcements and the opportunity to see the early recipients on live CCTV screens.
After a final briefing in the magnificent Waterloo Chamber, it was on to the Grand Reception Room. Here, each recipient was announced to Prince William, their guests standing to one side. After receiving the award and a brief chat, individuals moved to the St George’s Hall for group photographs.
At the end, groups left for the Upper Ward quadrangle – an immaculately maintained grassed area, surrounded by gravel paths – where there was time to reflect on the whole experience and to take private photographs before rejoining the mingling visitors in the centre of Windsor.
Image Credits: Kimber family , Kt bruce , The kimber family , Kimber family .