I received my CMG from HM The Queen at Buckingham Palace last week. Amidst all the pomp and circumstance you actually feel more nervous than you might expect, as you await those final few moments before you step forward to have the medal ribbon placed around your neck. For some reason the orchestra struck up “Three Blind Mice” which brought a smile to my face.
You do feel honoured to be receiving an award alongside a group of people who have served their country or their local communities in many different ways: in far-flung embassies, in the uniformed services, in schools and hospitals.
I have been working in the public service for over 30 years now, so this felt quite special. I wore cuff links made from buttons my grandfather wore when he served the Queen’s great grandfather, as a policeman in Africa more than a century ago. No-one else would have noticed, but I felt a nice sense of continuity.
It was good to have all the family together there – something that doesn’t happen very often when you’re based 11,000 miles from London. Our 17 year old daughter enjoyed wearing her first fascinator. They were particularly excited to see Rowan Atkinson, who was getting his CBE that day.
Later, two of my predecessors as High Commissioner in Canberra – Helen Liddell and Alastair Goodlad – kindly took us for a glass of champagne at the House of Lords.
I was actually back in Britain for our annual UK/Australia Strategic Dialogue talks, and a busy round of discussions with Whitehall officials. I also gave a lunchtime address to the Australia Business Group, and visited the acclaimed Australian art exhibition at the Royal Academy. London, basking in an Autumnal glow, was looking as magnificent as ever.