Wendy Matthews, our Deputy Chief Nurse and Director of Midwifery collected her OBE on Wednesday 9 May, and said the experience was “out of this world.”

She added: “It was amazing from start to finish. It was so nice that I could take my family along, they’re extremely proud.

“Princess Anne was lovely and she asked me about my role at the Trust and why I joined.”

Wendy, who has led huge improvements to our Maternity department over the last five years, took her mum, son and husband along to collect her OBE for services to midwifery at Buckingham Palace. They made the most of the special day, enjoying lunch at the Goring Hotel afterwards and even taking in West End show Dreamgirls to round it off.

Picking a great outfit for such an occasion is important and, after lucking out with the first thing she tried on, Wendy was rewarded with a compliment from a senior Buckingham Palace official that she’d got it ‘spot on’ and was one of the best-dressed.

Another highlight of the day for Wendy was meeting and spending time with other award recipients at the palace.

She added: “It was really interesting and I was in awe of them.

“I’m still on cloud nine. It was a fantastic day that I will never, ever forget.”

Pictured is Wendy with her OBE.