Attending the Investiture at Windsor Castle, Dr. Olivia Chapple received her OBE from His Majesty The King this week, in recognition for Horatio’s Garden. Chapple was accompanied by her husband, David Chapple and their sons, Titus and Magnus.
Along with her husband, Chapple set up the charity Horatio’s Garden to create nurturing beautiful, fully accessible, gardens for people who have experienced spinal injuries, their families and NHS staff. The charity is a legacy to her eldest son, Horatio an aspiring doctor, whose research identified the need for a garden for patients in the NHS spinal injury centre where he was a volunteer. Under her incredible leadership there are now seven ground-breaking gardens across the UK.
The charity’s mission to create one in the heart of all 11 NHS spinal injury centres. Work on the eighth garden at The Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre at Northern General Hospital in Sheffield has started, one year exactly since it began its life as the Best in Show winning garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, supported by Project Giving Back.
“There are so many people who share in this honour but I devote it to Horatio, whose immense courage and kindness infuses me every day. He was ahead of his time when he realised how gardens could be essential places for people with spinal injuries going through the most difficult of times. Today, because of Horatio’s research and vision, we are supporting thousands of people. In the next five years, we hope to ensure that no-one with a spinal injury in the UK should have to spend months in hospital without being connected to nature,” said Dr. Olivia Chapple.