In the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list for 2007 Lewis Kent was awarded an M. B. E. for his service to young people at the Oakley Holidays.
The M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) awards are presented each year by the Queen to a range of people from all over the country who have shown service and commitment, often over many years and usually unpaid, to charities, voluntary groups and local community projects.
 Lewis attended Buckingham Palace on 16th May 2007 for his investiture by the Queen accompanied by members of his family and Julian Wilde, representing Oakley members past and present. Julian shares some of his thoughts on the day below.
I came away from the impressive ceremonies at Buckingham Palace at which Lewis Kent received his M.B.E. from The Queen with three very strong feelings.
The first was the pleasure I had gained from being part of an occasion which was characterised by enjoyment, congratulations and thankfulness.
From the welcoming policeman who checked our identity at the palace gates, to the smiling ushers who began their directions by congratulating Lewis, to the Queen herself, animated throughout the presentation of 94 awards, to the cheery Yeoman of the Guard who offered to be in a photo with Lewis afterwards – every little detail was designed to make the award winners and their guests feel happy and relaxed.
 I was also almost startled by the Queen herself. For a woman aged 81 who has been our Head of State since 1953 she looked amazingly fit, strong and healthy.
Of course I see her regularly in short clips on the television, but, in person, the vigour and interest she showed throughout an hour of presentations was admirable.
She conducts 22 such investitures each year, but you would never have known. She made each person feel special.
Whatever doubts one may have about the Royal Family or about the Honours system with its possibly dated reference to the British Empire, this was an occasion when the Queen made it her business to ensure many excellent yet ordinary citizens enjoyed meeting her.
 I was delighted too that at this particular investiture “celebrities” such as Steven Gerrard, Joan Collins and Andrew Flintoff were conspicuous by their absence, excellent though they are in their own field. It was moving to meet and watch those who had given a lifetime of service to the mentally ill, to the scouts or guides, to hospitals, charities and local communities – from all over the United Kingdom and from developing countries such as Malawi or Grenada – being thanked and rewarded. It was a gathering of unsung heroes whose sterling work was being rewarded by the country in the form of a medal from The Queen.
The splendour of the palace – the ceremony was held in the magnificently ornate Ballroom with music provided the band of the Scots Guards – was for me secondary to the quality of the people who were there.
 It was a special privilege for me to be invited by Lewis to represent all Oakley people, past and present, and I was able to share in the joy and pride felt by Lewis’s wife Beverley, brother Lynden and sister-in-law Jayne.
At lunch afterwards, now relaxed and perhaps just a little relieved that Lewis had remembered to bow properly and had not tripped up, we all hooted with laughter in an Oakley kind of way, as we discussed the details of what we had just experienced. But, make no mistake, it was a very special and very worthwhile occasion.
Julian Wilde
Link to announcement news item
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The following list is taken from the investiture programme and shows all of the other people to receive an MBE with Lewis in the ceremony. This gives a good idea of the breadth of different service that is recognised by these awards.
THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
To be Members:-
Janet, Mrs. Allen
For services to the community in Scalford, Leicestershire.
Jane Bratby
For services to Her Majesty's Prison Armley, Leeds.
Myrna, Mrs. Chave
For services to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and to the community in Poole, Dorset.
Jean, Mrs. Dixon
For services to the Disabled in Easington, County Durham.
Sue, Mrs. Evans
For services to Nursing and to Healthcare and to the community in Burwell, Cambridgeshire.
Anne, Mrs. Faulconer
For services to The Children's Society.
Dr. Carol Gibbens
For services to the community in Dorset.
Dilys, Mrs. Hanmer
For services to Macmillan Cancer Relief in Wales.
Jillian, Mrs. Hinds
For services to the community in Kelvedon, Essex.
Judy, Mrs. Houry
For services to the Disabled in Saudi Arabia.
Elizabeth, Mrs. Jones
For services to Education and to the community in Flintshire.
Alison, Mrs. McFaul
For services to the Environment in Northern Ireland.
Miss Eileen Myers
For services to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Jean, Mrs. Outhwaite
For services to the Cub Scouts in Lancashire.
Julia Plaine
For services to Women.
Mary Powell
For services to the Tourist Industry in Lincolnshire.
Marguerita, Mrs. Powlesland
For services to the community in Hertfordshire.
Jean, Mrs. Robinson
For services to Nursing and to the community in Grenada.
Annabel Scarfe
For her contibution to the National Health Service.
Rita, Mrs. Lansdell Mr. Joseph Lansdell
For services to Children and to Families
Mr. Paul Bache
For services to the Meat Industry.
Mr. John Bailey
For services to the Church of England in Worcester.
Mr. John Bradley
For services to the Hampshire Constabulary.
Mr. John Chatburn
For services to the community in Hutton Somerset.
Mr. Geoffrey Corkish
For services to the community on the Isle of Man.
Mr. Anthony Cosgrove
For services to the Ministry of Defence.
Dr. Michael Flowers
For services to Medicine and to Charity in Yorkshire and Bangladesh.
Mr. William Frith
For public service in Bermuda.
Mr. Aneurin Heath
For services to Healthcare in Wales.
Mr. Michael Hitchens
For services to Education in Camborne, Cornwall.
Mr. Lewis Kent
For services to Young People.
Mr. Kim Knowles
For services to the Fashion Industry.
Dr. Iftikhar Lone
For services to Medicine and to Healthcare in Middlesbrough.
Inspector David Nasmyth-Miller
Metropolitan Police.
Dr. Frank Neal
For services to Medicine and to Healthcare in Rotherham.
Inspector Ronald Neill
Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Mr. Richard Perks
For services to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Dr. Euan Ross
For services to Higher Education.
Mr. Keith Roszell
For his contribution to the Fire and Rescue Service.
Mr. Sinton Spence
For services to commerce and to the Community in Papua New Guinea.
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