Welsh singer and BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Cerys Matthews has been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music. She received her medal from the Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony, where she paid tribute to her family and reflected on the freedoms she has as a woman in this era.
Matthews, 57, was a founding member of Welsh rock band Catatonia, who rose to fame during the Cool Cymru movement of the 1990s. She also hosts a Sunday show on BBC Radio 6 Music and is known for her 1999 duet with Sir Tom Jones, 'Baby It's Cold Outside'. After the ceremony, she said Prince William discussed Catatonia with her, adding he was 'evidently' a fan.
Matthews wore Black Watch tartan, Scotland's royal regimental tartan, in memory of her grandfather Oswald, who served in the Second World War and took part in the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy in 1944. She said her grandmother Olive did not have the freedom to pursue music because of economic and societal barriers as a young, working-class wartime bride.
'I'm here in their memory,' she said. 'I accept this honour in their memory, and in gratitude of the freedoms I have as a female in this era.' She added that she hopes the positive change continues across the world.
Techno DJ Carl Cox received an OBE for services to music after being a major figure in the British dance music scene for more than four decades. The Manchester-born artist said it was 'quite a thing' to still keep doing something; he said he would have been putting needle on the record for 50 years by next year.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Cerys Matthews' OBE recognises the lasting influence of Welsh music through the Cool Cymru era.
- Her tribute highlights the link between women's freedoms and the sacrifices of the wartime generation.
- The ceremony also honoured longstanding contributions to UK dance music through Carl Cox.
Background
The Order of the British Empire (OBE) is a British honour awarded for outstanding service in a field. Cerys Matthews rose to fame as a founding member of Catatonia, a band at the centre of the Cool Cymru movement that revitalised Welsh rock in the 1990s. The investiture took place at Windsor Castle, with Prince William presenting the medals.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
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- SupportedMatthews receives an OBE, pays tribute to her family and reflects on the freedoms she has as a woman.BBC Wales: “Singer and presenter Cerys Matthews paid tribute to her family as she received an OBE. ... “in gratitude of the freedoms I have as a female in this era””
- SupportedMatthews says Prince William was evidently a Catatonia fan.BBC Wales: “After the ceremony she said Prince William discussed Catatonia with her, adding he "evidently" was a fan.”
- SupportedMatthews received her OBE at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.Nation.Cymru: “received her medal from the Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.”
- SupportedMatthews was appointed an OBE for services to music and received her medal from the Prince of Wales.BBC Wales: “Matthews ... was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to music and received a medal from the Prince of Wales.”
- SupportedMatthews said, “I accept this honour in their memory, and in gratitude of the freedoms I have as a female in this era.”BBC Wales: “and I accept this honour in their memory, and in gratitude of the freedoms I have as a female in this era.”
- SupportedMatthews is 57.BBC Wales: “The 57-year-old hosts a BBC Radio 6 Music show every Sunday”
- SupportedMatthews was a founding member of Catatonia, which rose to fame during the Cool Cymru movement of the 1990s.BBC Wales: “was a founding member of Welsh rock band Catatonia who shot to fame during the 'Cool Cymru' movement of the 1990s.”
- SupportedMatthews hosts a Sunday show on BBC Radio 6 Music.BBC Wales: “The 57-year-old hosts a BBC Radio 6 Music show every Sunday”
- SupportedMatthews wore Black Watch tartan in memory of her grandfather Oswald, who served in the Second World War and took part in the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944.BBC Wales: “Matthews wore Black Watch tartan – Scotland's royal regimental tartan – to the ceremony in memory of her grandfather Oswald, who served in World War Two and took part in the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy in 1944.”
- SupportedMatthews said her grandmother Olive lacked the freedom to pursue music because of economic and societal barriers as a young, working-class wartime bride.BBC Wales: “She said her grandmother, Olive, did not have the freedom to pursue music because of economic and societal barriers as a young, working-class wartime bride.”
- SupportedCarl Cox received an OBE for services to music and had been a major figure in British dance music for more than four decades.BBC Wales: “techno DJ Carl Cox received an OBE for services to music after being a major figure in the British dance music scene for more than four decades.”
- SupportedCox said that by next year he would have been putting needle on the record for 50 years, calling it “quite a thing” to still keep doing something.BBC Wales: ““By next year, I would have been putting needle on the record for 50 years, so it's quite a thing to be able to still keep doing something”