Earlier this year we announced that Barry Leahey, Playdale’s Managing Director, had been named on the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours List to receive an MBE for ‘Services to UK Trade & Investment and Exports’. The definition of MBE is Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Barry has been the driving force behind Playdale’s growth strategy and has successfully formed distribution agreements in 46 countries in less than 7 years.
Barry and his family were then cordially invited to travel to Buckingham Palace on Thursday 7th December for his investiture. An investiture is a special day when someone who has been awarded an honour receives their award in person from The Queen or a Member of the Royal Family; in Barry’s case, it was to be Prince Charles. The investee visits the Royal residence with members of their family, to be awarded their medal.
It was a truly memorable occasion that Barry and his family will reflect upon for years to come…including a chat with Ed Sheeran who was also being awarded his MBE shortly after Barry!
Barry reflected, “Receiving this MBE has been one of my greatest achievements and a very proud moment. It reinforces that with passion and perseverance anyone can achieve their goals! I could not have done it without the support of my family, Playdale colleagues and friends.”
Congratulations Barry on this most deserving of awards!
Win a Playdale Storytelling Chair To celebrate National Storytelling Week (Monday 2nd – 8th Feb) and the magic of stories, imagination, and outdoor learning, we’re giving schools and nurseries the chance to win their very own Storytelling Chair! Perfect for reading corners and outdoor classrooms, our beautifully crafted Storytelling Chair brings tales to life. It […]
Make the most of your budget with our exclusive spring offer – designed to maximise value while improving your local play spaces. For a limited time only, when you order any three selected pieces of playground equipment before the 31st March 2026, you’ll receive the cheapest item free. Perfect for Local Authorities: Perfect for Schools […]
With 2026 officially in full swing, it’s time for the Playdale CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Team to share what they’ve been up to, and to proudly reveal the total amount raised for our two staff-chosen charities: St Mary’s Hospice and Mind in Furness. Our 2025 Efforts Our 2025 efforts brought people together in ways that […]
