Gareth Davies receives an MBE for his contribution to cleft care.

It was a huge honour for ECO Executive Director, Gareth Davies,  to be invited to Windsor Castle to be presented with a medal by King Charles III on 23 June.  He  had been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the King’s New Year ‘s Honours list the for services to healthcare in the UK and Overseas, reflecting the contribution he has made to cleft care throughout his career.  “It was a very moving occasion for me and my family” says Gareth “I was not expecting to have the opportunity of talking to the King about my work but he had been well briefed and was asking me questions about issues facing children born with clefts.  I was able to get across the importance of full multidisciplinary care which is still lacking in many parts of the world, and that surgery was only part of the picture.  It is not often you get to talk to Kings about Comprehensive Cleft Care so this was a really special moment that will stay with me”