The only nursing stroke care professor in the UK has been made a Dame.
AdvertisementProfessor Caroline Watkins at the University of Central Lancashire was first up to receive her honour at Buckingham Palace.
Prince Charles bestowed the DBE after Dame Watkins was announced in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
Dame Watkins said: “Prince Charles was lovely and much more quietly spoken that I imagined” Caroline said. “He asked a bit about what I did and said he hoped I wouldn’t be retiring anytime soon. I of course assured him that it isn’t on the agenda for quite a while.”
Accompanied by her husband Kevin, son Josh and 96-year-old mum Ivy she saw Ray Davies from The Kinks and a host of Team GB Olympians from Rio 2016 receive their awards.
Dame Watkins said: “Both my mum and I wore the hats we bought for my wedding day in 1996. If someone had told me at the time that we would be wearing them again all these years later to visit Buckingham Palace I don’t think I would’ve believed them.
“My mum was absolutely delighted and even managed to get a seat on the front row, which made it even better. It was just a fantastic day, even if I was so nervous beforehand I couldn’t put my nail varnish on properly.”
Read more: Simon Rigby visits the Palace for MBE
The UCLan professor has spent 40 years in nursing and has led specialist research projects into strokes.
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