Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Made:: 1982 in Birmingham

commissioner:: The Cabinet Office

maker:: Thomas Fattorini Limited

Stephen Hawking Estate/Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Commander of The Order of The British Empire (C.B.E.) medal on red and grey ribbon in leather case with fitted felt insert, the case also contains a spare red and grey ribbon and an instruction card on how to wear The Badge of the Third Class of an Order. Made by Thomas Fattorini Limited, in Birmingham, 1982.

The CBE medal was awarded to Stephen Hawking in 1982 for services to astronomical research.

Stephen Hawking's office did not contain scientific awards, medals or insignias. These were largely kept at home. A selection of there were part of the office acquisition and constitute a sample of his most significant scientific achievements, as well as overlapping social and political causes.

Details

Category:: Stephen Hawking Office

Collection:: Stephen Hawking’s Office

Object Number:: 2021-561/16

Materials:: enamel, metal (unknown), textile, leather and paper (fibre product)

type:: medal

credit:: Accepted in lieu of Inheritance Tax by H M Government from the Estate of Stephen Hawking and allocated to the Science Museum, 2021

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Parts

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) Badge

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) Badge

Badge (medal) of Commander of The Order of The British Empire (CBE.), 1982, made by Thomas Fattorini Limited, in Birmingham. Shaped as a cross with a round gold centre and blue, roughly crown-shaped arms. The top arm connects to a crown to which the red ribbon attaches.

The CBE medal was awarded to Stephen Hawking "for services to astronomical research."

Hawking’s daughter, Lucy, remembers a letter from Buckingham Palace arriving at the family home one morning with news of an unexpected award for her father. Hawking joked that he had gone from being an anti-establishment figure to being a pillar of the establishment. He was keenly aware of the power of such high-profile awards to improve the visibility and recognition of disabled people.