POPULAR expat lady-about-town Gale Bailey is the latest UK national to be awarded a MBE for her support of the British community in Thailand and her charity work in the kingdom.
Gale, who has lived in Thailand for almost 20 years, received the award from Prince Charles at a special ceremony earlier this year in Buckingham Palace in London.
Accompanied by her husband Mick, son Andrew and daughter Jane, Leicester-born Gale said she enjoyed a “little chat” with the Prince who attached the MBE medal to a pin which had been placed on her dress earlier, and then congratulated her.
Gale, who has lived in Thailand for almost 20 years, received the award from Prince Charles at a special ceremony earlier this year in Buckingham Palace in London.
Accompanied by her husband Mick, son Andrew and daughter Jane, Leicester-born Gale said she enjoyed a “little chat” with the Prince who attached the MBE medal to a pin which had been placed on her dress earlier, and then congratulated her.
“He was very charming,” remembers Gale, a lady well-known for her endless good humour and humanity. “I stepped backwards and curtseyed again before exiting the hall. My family told me they were all very proud and teary eyed watching me, but I dare not look at them or else I would have blown my control!”
Gale is a former longtime president of the British Women’s Group, works with several local charities, including the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN) which organizes the annual Ploenchit Fair, and makes regular visits to Thai prisons to assist foreign inmates.
Other British lady expats in Thailand to receive a MBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, often shortened to “Order of the British Empire”) include Caroline Tarrant and Edith Stewart.
Here is Gale’s full account of her trip:
MBE Investiture
The day dawned but I had slept quite well considering how my mind had been in turmoil at the prospect of going to Buckingham Palace. It was all very exciting but also rather daunting. However, I think I had shed enough tears since I had received the news at Ploenchit Fair 2013 – I just wanted to be calm and collected so that I could take it all in.
We stayed at St. James Court hotel which was absolutely lovely (no expense spared!) and had an early breakfast so we could get ready leisurely. My husband and I (getting into royal mode here) had travelled down to London the day before with our son, Andrew. Our daughter, Jane, and her partner, Henning, had flown in from Hamburg so we had had a lovely evening together the night before.
Andrew had a sticker for his car as he wanted to drive into the Palace so when we were all ready off we went, not realising we would be going in through one of the front gates! There were crowds outside wondering who we were, I am sure! The police checking our invites and IDs were smashing which helped me to keep calm then Andrew drove up to where we have seen foreign heads of state and other dignitaries alight from coaches and limos – quite surreal really. There was already a queue which we joined and after checking our passes once again, we went up the elegant staircase to the cloakrooms – no phones or cameras allowed into the Grand Ballroom so these had to be left behind. Splendid guards in full uniforms stood on duty along the way – WOW! We then parted company – me to the right with other recipients and guests straight on. Deep breaths here Gale, the time is getting close!
The people receiving knighthoods and dames were in a different room to ‘others’ where we could get a drink of water and watch a video showing previous investitures so we knew what to expect. However, we were given full instructions (ladies to curtsey/men to bow) in such a friendly manner by a tall uniformed gentleman who put us at ease (slightly!) and assured us it would all go smoothly and that Prince Charles would be officiating. I chatted with other ladies – from Ireland, Geneva and even Yorkshire – who were feeling apprehensive too. We were just ordinary folk who were going to receive a wonderful award and to all of us, it had come as a surprise! We were all equally thrilled about it too!
The knights and dames went in first and we were able to see them being presented by having a sword placed on each shoulder. We were called in groups of 10 and had names checked again to ensure we were who it said we were! We paraded through majestic corridors with fabulous paintings and décor to just outside the ballroom where we could hear the military orchestra playing lovely music. It was just magical and I walked tall, taking deep breaths and trying not to show the pain my shoes were inflicting!
Our names were twice checked again before I waited my turn to enter the Grand Ballroom. My name was announced together with the reason I had received the award as I went forward to curtsey to Prince Charles. He asked about the flooding and how long I had lived in Thailand, in fact we had quite a little chat which culminated in his attaching the medal to a pin which had been placed on me earlier, saying ‘Well done and congratulations’ as he shook my hand. He was very charming! I stepped backwards and curtseyed again before exiting the hall. My family told me they were all very proud and teary eyed watching me but I didn't dare to look at them or else I would have blown my control!
The medal was placed in a box and returned to me by two Palace staff who shook my hand and congratulated me once again. It was all so wonderful – I was quite euphoric! I was then escorted into the back of the Grand Ballroom where I sat with the rest of the recipients and watched the remaining award winners, listening to the wonderful music. At the end we all stood as Prince Charles and his entourage made their exit following which there was a mass of beaming smiles, hugs and kisses as we met up with our families again. A truly memorable occasion – unbelievable really! I felt extremely honoured, privileged and proud – and choked up!
I cannot think of enough superlatives to describe how it all was as it was truly AWESOME (not a word I use lightly!) What a memorable occasion for us all and I am so happy to know others from far and wide joined in to share this experience with me. Special thanks to Agnes Niehof for my lovely outfit and Jenny Beattie for the fantastic hat – I was truly original! Wonderful celebrations followed but that will have to be for another time!
Gale is a former longtime president of the British Women’s Group, works with several local charities, including the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN) which organizes the annual Ploenchit Fair, and makes regular visits to Thai prisons to assist foreign inmates.
Other British lady expats in Thailand to receive a MBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, often shortened to “Order of the British Empire”) include Caroline Tarrant and Edith Stewart.
Here is Gale’s full account of her trip:
MBE Investiture
The day dawned but I had slept quite well considering how my mind had been in turmoil at the prospect of going to Buckingham Palace. It was all very exciting but also rather daunting. However, I think I had shed enough tears since I had received the news at Ploenchit Fair 2013 – I just wanted to be calm and collected so that I could take it all in.
We stayed at St. James Court hotel which was absolutely lovely (no expense spared!) and had an early breakfast so we could get ready leisurely. My husband and I (getting into royal mode here) had travelled down to London the day before with our son, Andrew. Our daughter, Jane, and her partner, Henning, had flown in from Hamburg so we had had a lovely evening together the night before.
Andrew had a sticker for his car as he wanted to drive into the Palace so when we were all ready off we went, not realising we would be going in through one of the front gates! There were crowds outside wondering who we were, I am sure! The police checking our invites and IDs were smashing which helped me to keep calm then Andrew drove up to where we have seen foreign heads of state and other dignitaries alight from coaches and limos – quite surreal really. There was already a queue which we joined and after checking our passes once again, we went up the elegant staircase to the cloakrooms – no phones or cameras allowed into the Grand Ballroom so these had to be left behind. Splendid guards in full uniforms stood on duty along the way – WOW! We then parted company – me to the right with other recipients and guests straight on. Deep breaths here Gale, the time is getting close!
The people receiving knighthoods and dames were in a different room to ‘others’ where we could get a drink of water and watch a video showing previous investitures so we knew what to expect. However, we were given full instructions (ladies to curtsey/men to bow) in such a friendly manner by a tall uniformed gentleman who put us at ease (slightly!) and assured us it would all go smoothly and that Prince Charles would be officiating. I chatted with other ladies – from Ireland, Geneva and even Yorkshire – who were feeling apprehensive too. We were just ordinary folk who were going to receive a wonderful award and to all of us, it had come as a surprise! We were all equally thrilled about it too!
The knights and dames went in first and we were able to see them being presented by having a sword placed on each shoulder. We were called in groups of 10 and had names checked again to ensure we were who it said we were! We paraded through majestic corridors with fabulous paintings and décor to just outside the ballroom where we could hear the military orchestra playing lovely music. It was just magical and I walked tall, taking deep breaths and trying not to show the pain my shoes were inflicting!
Our names were twice checked again before I waited my turn to enter the Grand Ballroom. My name was announced together with the reason I had received the award as I went forward to curtsey to Prince Charles. He asked about the flooding and how long I had lived in Thailand, in fact we had quite a little chat which culminated in his attaching the medal to a pin which had been placed on me earlier, saying ‘Well done and congratulations’ as he shook my hand. He was very charming! I stepped backwards and curtseyed again before exiting the hall. My family told me they were all very proud and teary eyed watching me but I didn't dare to look at them or else I would have blown my control!
The medal was placed in a box and returned to me by two Palace staff who shook my hand and congratulated me once again. It was all so wonderful – I was quite euphoric! I was then escorted into the back of the Grand Ballroom where I sat with the rest of the recipients and watched the remaining award winners, listening to the wonderful music. At the end we all stood as Prince Charles and his entourage made their exit following which there was a mass of beaming smiles, hugs and kisses as we met up with our families again. A truly memorable occasion – unbelievable really! I felt extremely honoured, privileged and proud – and choked up!
I cannot think of enough superlatives to describe how it all was as it was truly AWESOME (not a word I use lightly!) What a memorable occasion for us all and I am so happy to know others from far and wide joined in to share this experience with me. Special thanks to Agnes Niehof for my lovely outfit and Jenny Beattie for the fantastic hat – I was truly original! Wonderful celebrations followed but that will have to be for another time!
