MoS Sports Editor Alison gets her OBE
...and gives Mrs Beckham some curtseying coaching
THE Mail on Sunday’s Alison Kervin – the first female sports editor of a national newspaper – received her OBE from Prince William last week at Buckingham Palace.
She was named in the New Year Honours for services to sports journalism over the course of an outstanding career.
Alison, 47, started in journalism at the Hastings Observer and in 2013 was appointed sports editor of the MoS. She has led this newspaper’s campaign to raise awareness of the dangers from concussion in sport.
She has also written several books, including autobiographies for former England rugby union stars Jason Leonard and Phil Vickery. A qualified rugby referee, she was the first woman to officiate at Twickenham.
Alison took her parents Cristine and Peter, and son George Kervin-Evans, to the Palace on Wednesday. She received her gong shortly after designer Victoria Beckham, who was there with husband David.
Last night, Alison said: ‘A nervous-looking Victoria practised curtseying next to me and asked which leg went behind and how deeply she should bend. “Right leg behind,” I suggested. “And don’t bend too much. You have to get up again.”
‘She said, “I bet I fall over. I’m bound to go flying in front of the Prince and David.”
‘Happily, both of us made it to the Prince without any embarrassing slips. He congratulated the MoS for what he described as “a campaign that genuinely made a difference in the world” and told me I should be proud.
‘It was a very moving occasion and I was greatly honoured. The award is testament to the whole team at the MoS sports desk.’