Diana Parkes Awarded CBE

Diana Parkes has been awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) medals in The King’s New Year Honours List.

Diana, as co-founder and co-Patron of the Joanna Simpson Foundation, is receiving the honour for her services to vulnerable children suffering from domestic abuse and domestic homicide.

Diana and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton (Joanna Simpson’s close friend) co-founded the Joanna Simpson Foundation in 2014, following the brutal killing of Joanna Simpson by her estranged husband, Robert Brown in 2010.

Joanna’s killing took place one week before the finalisation of their divorce, her body was found five days later buried in a pre-dug grave in Windsor Great Park. Despite evidence of considerable planning, Robert Brown was convicted of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility and sentenced to 26 years in prison.

This year, Diana and Hetti, alongside Joanna’s wider family and friends, successfully campaigned for the Justice Secretary to block Robert Brown’s early automatic release which would’ve taken place in November 2023, despite having served only half of his 26 year sentence. Brown would have been on licence for the remaining 13 years if his early automatic release had not been blocked. The Justice Secretary Alex Chalk blocked Brown’s release and referred it to the Parole Board under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act.

Diana Parkes: ‘I feel incredibly privileged to be receiving a CBE. This news has come as a  huge surprise and I am obviously highly delighted.  Whilst this honour is an occasion to celebrate. It is bittersweet as this would not have been possible had my daughter, Jo, not been brutally killed by her estranged husband. With this honour I vow to continue to raise awareness about the impact of Domestic Violence and Homicide on children as well as violence against women.

Jo loved children and believed they should have a safe and happy childhood.  That is why the Joanna Simpson Foundation was set up in her name to ensure all children impacted by Domestic Violence are supported and protected. We hope the Foundation will continue to have a positive impact on future generations.

‘I would like to pay tribute to Jo’s children, my son and my husband for all their love and support over the past 13 years. Also many thanks to Hetti Barkworth-Nanton and the trustees of the Joanna Simpson Foundation.’