Congratulations to Jim Murray (8.88-93) and his wife Sarah Parish, who have been appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire in the King’s New Year Honours List for services to children with an illness and their families.
Jim is the Co-Founder of The Murray Parish Trust, a charity he established with Sarah in 2014 in memory of their late daughter Ella-Jayne who died aged nine months due to a congenital heart defect. The charity has raised over £5 million for paediatric facilities to date. Jim is also the Patron of the Friends of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Southampton Children’s Hospital.
The couple said they were “deeply humbled and incredibly grateful” to be recognised. “Founding The Murray Parish Trust 10 years ago was born from a deeply personal journey, and it has been a privilege to see the impact we’ve been able to make together with our supporters, partners and the amazing communities we serve,” they added. “This honour is not just for us – it’s for everyone who has stood by our mission to create brighter futures for seriously ill children and their families. Thank you for believing in what we do and for helping us make a difference.”