Copyright grimsbytelegraph
A Waltham nursery owner received a letter this week from The King and Quee n inviting her to receive her MBE for services to children. Eleanor Hutton is attending St James' Palace next month to recognise her dedication to early years provision. Explorosity Education in Waltham has had success in attracting children of families from Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Louth, Market Rasen, Caistor and Lincoln since opening in 2019. Eleanor, 35, told Grimsby Live of her excitement at being honoured and her plans for the visit to the palace, including a new hat. She will be joined by nursery assistant manager, Becca Batten as well as her mum Sharon Davies, aunt Melanie Perrin, her husband, Josh Hutton and their daughter, Elora, eight and Eleanor's brother Chris.. The MBE was awarded in The King's Birthday Honours in the summer and Eleanor will be at St James' Palace on December 5. It is next to where King Charles and Queen Camilla live at Clarence House. "It is really special coming from The King and Queen. Their letter arrived this week, though I received the honour in June. I could not believe it when it arrived. I was in shock. I was with my colleague and we both froze in disbelief." Eleanor added: "It is an overwhelming sense of gratitude and feeling of pride. I am getting the credit but it is for all the team at Explorosity." She said her daughter is super excited to be going to the palace and Eleanor has chosen a white suit and will have a hat specially made by Ian Bennet, milliner of Louth. He is familiar with Royal requests having made a hat for the late Queen Elizabeth and also for Madonna. Eleanor said she was proud to have 167 children on her nursery roll and is fully booked until 2029. "We are getting parents wanting a place even before a child is conceived. "It is going well. That is down to my team. It is about the passion and love they have for the children and their families. It is an important relationship," the nursery owner said. She looks after 24 staff. Eleanor said: "We over staff because it adds to the quality and that has helped make us what we are. It works so well." Sadly, Eleanor lost her father Robert Davies last year. "I will be thinking of him. He would have been over the moon at the honour and proud," she said. Eleanor is now preparing to take on a PhD doctorate in relational regulation with the University of St John in York, to examine the role of close bonds of staff in Early Years Provision and the professional love given to children. Eleanor remembers well the care given by her teachers learning at Cordeaux School, Louth with the late-Mrs Chris Brook, Mrs Carole Romaine, Mr Simon Bowman and Mrs Andrea Taylor. She also received congratulations this week from The Lord Lieutenant for Lincolnshire, Toby Dennis. The Order of the British Empire was started by King George V in 1917 to recognise the sacrifices and services of people during the First World War. Queen Elizabeth dedicated a chapel at St Paul's Cathedral in 1960 where members of The Order can have weddings, baptisms and memorial services.
