• Swindon & Wiltshire News
• Thursday May 12 2022
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Purpol Marketing founder among first to be invested with post-pandemic MBE

Purpol Marketing founder Denise O’Leary was among the first people to receive royal honours at Buckingham Palace in two years.

Prince William and Princess Anne shared the duties of presenting honours to recipients in the palace’s throne room – the first time the room has been used for the investiture ceremony since 1904.

The last investiture at the palace took place on March 12 in 2020 just before the first Covid-19 lockdown.

Denise was presented the MBE – which was awarded for services to the construction sector and entrepreneurs in the 2022 New Year’s Honours List – by Prince William.

She received the honour for the work she has done to demystify the world of construction and marketing.

As a construction specialist, Denise is trusted with confidential company information and company survival can depend on the winning outcome, and Denise’s marketing and bid writing skills have saved companies.

“I was so thrilled and humbled to be part of such a historic occasion – The Duke of Cambridge was very friendly and we had a wonderful personal chat, it was like a private audience as each person was awarded individually,” said Denise.

“We chatted about the importance of training young people and my love of the colour purple.

“We were escorted through the palace and had a special pin placed on my clothes so the insignia was easily hooked on when the honour was awarded.

“The whole occasion was incredible – the opulent surroundings, made even more amazing by the fact we were the first investiture in the palace post-pandemic and had the honour of an audience with HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge in the iconic throne room – the scene for many royal wedding photographs.

“Everyone was so lovely – offering their congratulations and allowing us to appreciate the magnificence of the occasion. This was a magical, memorable and truly unforgettable experience.”