Alumna Julie Deane (Natural Sciences 1984), an Honorary Fellow and former Development Officer and Registrary of Gonville & Caius College, was named CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Julie was honoured for services to entrepreneurship and British manufacturing. She is the founder of The Cambridge Satchel Co, which she has built despite no previous fashion credentials.

HRH The Prince of Wales pictured with Julie Deane on a tour of The Cambridge Satchel Co's workshop

The CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) is the highest ranking of the Order of the British Empire award (excluding a knighthood and damehood).

“Supporting British manufacturing has always been at the heart of our business, so being given this honour is truly humbling,” Julie says.

“I believe the UK still has a huge wealth of untapped traditional craftsmanship and I hope we can inspire other brands to invest in UK manufacturing.”

Other Caians were honoured. Juliette Wilcox (Law 1985) was named CMG (Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George) for services to British foreign policy, and Adrian Dale (Natural Sciences 1985) was honoured with a BEM (Medal of the Order of the British Empire) for services to the community in the Parish of Chelveston-cum-Caldecott, Northamptonshire, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.