Dame Emma Bridgewater, the renowned ceramicist, has expressed her intention to utilise her newly bestowed honour to advocate for significant improvements in adult social care across the United Kingdom. Following her investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, where she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by the King for her services to ceramics, Dame Emma revealed her aspirations to drive positive change in care communities.
A Personal Motivation for Change
In the aftermath of receiving the prestigious honour, Dame Emma Bridgewater shared that she felt "dazed" but deeply motivated. She articulated a strong desire to address shortcomings in adult social care, particularly for the elderly, drawing from her own family experiences. "I think that care, particularly for the elderly, we could be doing a lot better," she stated. "There are some exemplary places, but between my mother who was very handicapped at 50 and lived 22 years in care and my sister who's been in really her whole life, I feel we can make better communities and better links to the communities."
Leveraging the Honour for Advocacy
Dame Emma indicated that her new status as a Dame has empowered her to take action. She mentioned speaking to the King about writing to him with an idea for a "new project" focused on building better communities for individuals in care. "I think maybe being a Dame has made me feel I could do that," she reflected, highlighting how the honour could serve as a platform to influence policy and community initiatives.
Ceramics Legacy and Commemorative Wares
The investiture also provided an opportunity for Dame Emma to reflect on her professional journey. She founded the Emma Bridgewater ceramics manufacturing company in 1985, specialising in cream-coloured earthenware produced in Stoke-On-Trent. Discussing the impact of royal commemorative pottery, she noted, "Some of the greatest fun and the hugest response is when we make commemorative wares and what my now ex-husband and I knew instinctively is that there would be a huge enthusiasm for any mugs commemorating jubilees and marriages and babies."
Tribute to Stoke-On-Trent
Dame Emma paid heartfelt tribute to the people of Stoke-On-Trent, acknowledging their crucial role in her success. "I'm a little bit dazed really, it's been very lovely having my daughters with me. When I heard the news I had a huge wave of pride, for Stoke for the people in the factory. The business really wouldn't exist without Stoke-On-Trent," she said, emphasising the local community's contribution to her ceramics enterprise.
Other Honourees at the Ceremony
The investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday morning also recognised other distinguished individuals. Among them were MP Sir Andrew Mitchell, actress and playwright Tracy-Ann Oberman MBE, and astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, each honoured for their respective contributions to public life, arts, and science.
Dame Emma Bridgewater's commitment to using her honour for social good underscores a growing trend of public figures leveraging their platforms to address critical issues like adult social care, potentially inspiring broader advocacy and reform efforts in the years to come.
