Co-Founders of the Joanna Simpson Foundation to be awarded CBEs in the 2024 New Years Honour List

The Joanna Simpson Foundation is delighted to announce Diana Parkes and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton have been awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) medals in The King’s New Year Honours List.

• Hetti, as co-founder and co-Patron of the Joanna Simpson Foundation & Chair of Refuge, has been given the honour for her services to people affected by domestic abuse and homicide.

• Diana, as co-founder and co-Patron of the Joanna Simpson Foundation, is receiving the honour for her services to vulnerable children suffering from domestic abuse and domestic homicide.

Diana and Hetti co-founded the Joanna Simpson Foundation in 2014, following the brutal killing of Joanna Simpson by her estranged husband, Robert Brown in 2010. Joanna’s killing took place one week before the finalisation of their divorce. Joanna’s body was found 5 days later buried in a pre-dug grave in Windsor Great Park. Despite evidence of considerable planning, Robert Brown was convicted of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and sentenced to 26 years in prison.

This year, Diana and Hetti, alongside Joanna’s wider family and friends, successfully campaigned for the Justice Secretary to block Robert Brown’s early automatic release which would’ve taken place in November 2023, despite having served only half of his 26 year sentence. Brown would have been on licence for the remaining 13 years if his early automatic release had not been blocked. The Justice Secretary Alex Chalk blocked Brown’s release and referred it to the Parole Board under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.

Diana Parkes: “I feel incredibly privileged to be receiving a CBE. This news has come as a  huge surprise and I am obviously highly delighted.  Whilst this honour is an occasion to celebrate. It is bittersweet as this would not have been possible had my daughter, Jo, not been brutally killed by her estranged husband. With this honour I vow to continue to raise awareness about the impact of Domestic Violence and Homicide on children as well as violence against women.

Jo loved children and believed they should have a safe and happy childhood.  That is why the Joanna Simpson Foundation was set up in her name to ensure all children impacted by Domestic Violence are supported and protected. We hope the Foundation will continue to have a positive impact on future generations.

I would like to pay tribute to Jo’s children, my son and my husband for all their love and support over the past 13 years. Also many thanks to Hetti Barkworth-Nanton and the trustees of the Joanna Simpson Foundation.”

Hetti Barkworth-Nanton: “I was deeply moved and overwhelmed when I found out I was going to receive this honour – it would not be happening, and I would not be doing my work were it not for my beautiful friend Joanna Simpson who lost her life so brutally at the hands of her estranged husband.

Today I work with and alongside many incredible colleagues, who work and volunteer for Refuge, The Joanna Simpson Foundation, and sister organisations throughout the VAWG sector who work tirelessly to support women and children experiencing domestic abuse and whose commitment inspires me every day. Whilst domestic abuse is predominantly perpetrated on women, I also recognise and applaud the work of Respect and others who provide much needed support to men who are experiencing abuse.

This honour is testament those many individuals who dedicate themselves to this cause, survivors of domestic abuse who bravely tell their story, and the family and friends who support them. And countless others who, through their work in criminal justice, health and social care, law, education and human resources, continue to ask the right questions, and be there for survivors when they so badly need help.

But whilst so much has changed for the better, there is a huge amount of work still to be done.

Change must be everyone’s challenge, because changing societal attitudes takes all of us. It could be affecting your sister, your mother, your daughter, your niece, your friend, your colleague, your neighbour – changing attitudes and creating a generation free from abuse is down to every one of us today.

We have to reach more women sooner so they can get help earlier, we have to raise awareness to help women spot the signs, we must change laws, attitudes, and behaviours in society, and that way we will ultimately save lives. I will not rest until domestic abuse is eliminated.

There are so many people who have been alongside me on this journey over the years, but I must thank today my incredible husband and daughters without whose support I simply couldn’t do what I do, and Diana Parkes, Jo’s mother, for working so bravely together with me for much needed change”.