I send my heartfelt congratulations to Diana Parkes and Hetti Barkworth-Nanton on receiving this well deserved award.
Diana Parkes, a mother who tragically lost her daughter Joanna Simpson to domestic violence in 2010, was honored with a Pride of Britain award in 2024. Alongside Joanna’s best friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton, Parkes co-founded the Joanna Simpson Foundation in 2014. The foundation works to support children impacted by domestic violence and raise awareness about its devastating effects, particularly focusing on the children left behind by domestic homicides.
Parkes’ journey began after her daughter Joanna was killed by her estranged husband, Robert Brown, in a brutal attack. In response, Parkes, together with Hetti, took up the mantle of advocacy, not only caring for Joanna’s young children but also pushing for systemic changes to better protect children and families at risk. Their work with the foundation has become a vital force in the fight against domestic abuse, helping children who are often the silent victims of such violence.
In 2023, they successfully campaigned to block Brown’s early release from prison, a testament to their tireless efforts to protect others from the danger he poses. Both Parkes and Barkworth-Nanton were also awarded CBEs earlier in 2024 for their services to children and families affected by domestic violence.
The Pride of Britain award, presented by Queen Camilla, is a recognition of their relentless dedication to safeguarding children and preventing domestic abuse. Camilla herself has cited Parkes’ story as a major inspiration in her own advocacy efforts around the issue .