‘I am writing in the strictest confidence to inform you that you are to be recommended to His Majesty the King for the honour of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Birthday 2023 Honours List . . .’
No one could have been more surprised to receive the above message from the Cabinet Office a few months ago than our Editors, Gail and Hazel. However, we’re all pretty chuffed about it and glad that at last we can share the exciting news.
It does feel very special to be part of His Majesty’s first Birthday Honours List, and it couldn’t have come at a more appropriate moment since we’ll be celebrating the Fox’s twentieth anniversary next year. The Award is for ‘services to literature’, and though it’s Gail and Hazel who will be going to the Palace, we all agree that it’s really a pat on the back for everyone involved with Slightly Foxed, and that certainly includes our faithful readers, without whom, of course, there’d be no magazine. Gail and Hazel are both somewhat camera-shy, but we’ll do our best to post a photo on the website when the great day arrives!
With best wishes, as ever, from the whole SF team
– And, of course, the Slightly Foxed hounds: Stanley, Maggie, Gideon, Humphrey, Tarka & Dusty
You can hear more about how it all began in Episode 1 of the Slightly Foxed podcast.