Dr Heather Armstrong, Chief Executive of the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust (GHDT), described her investiture by King Charles as a “thrilling” and “exciting” moment, praising the monarch as “amazing” and a “star” for his detailed knowledge of recipients’ work.
At Windsor Castle, Dr Armstrong received her Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), awarded by King Charles, for her services to animal welfare and poverty alleviation in The Gambia. “I was so thrilled to meet His Majesty The King yesterday to receive an MBE for the charity,” she shared. “It is so exciting to think that he knew of our work, and he asked a number of questions about what we did. He is amazing, and clearly did his homework well to know so much about all the people there.”
Co-founded by Dr Armstrong and her late sister, Stella Marsden, in 2002, GHDT has transformed lives in one of Africa’s poorest nations by improving the health and welfare of working horses and donkeys – vital to rural transport, farming, and livelihoods. The charity provides veterinary care, trains local paravets, farriers, and harness makers, runs education programmes in schools, and supports community development initiatives.
Dr Armstrong, from Ockley in Surrey, and the daughter of a Gambian conservation pioneer, Eddie Brewer, who founded the Abuko Nature Reserve, has dedicated decades to this cause. Her holistic approach addresses not only animal suffering from disease and poor management but also human poverty, offering scholarships, workshops, and resources to communities that rely on these animals.
The MBE recognises her leadership in treating tens of thousands of animals, training over 1,000 students, and fostering sustainable change. Colleagues hail her selflessness, noting GHDT’s role in building veterinary capacity and inspiring hope in rural Gambia.
