Portsmouth Professor Snags MBE from the Queen at Windsor Castle
Professor Mike Tipton of Portsmouth University has been handed an MBE by The Queen herself in a glittering ceremony at Windsor Castle. The honour, announced in the 2018 New Year’s Honours list, recognises his outstanding services to research and teaching in extreme environmental physiology and drowning prevention.
A Royal Day to Remember
“The event was a very special day for me,” said Professor Tipton. “The icing on the cake was that the Queen was presiding over the ceremony.”
He admitted nerves kicked in after his briefing on strict royal protocol. “I began to wonder if I could remember what to do. Everyone was practising curtseys and bows!”
Thankfully, the ceremony went off without a hitch. “It all feels like a dream now,” he added, “but I’ll never forget the day—or the incredible support from colleagues, friends, and family that made it possible.”
Britain’s Cold Water Survival Guru
Tipton is the UK’s top expert on cold water survival. As Professor of Human and Applied Physiology at Portsmouth, he heads the Extreme Environments Laboratory and leads research in the Department of Sport and Exercise Science.
A Career Saving Lives and Training Stars
- Played a key role training UK swimmers for the Olympics
- Collaborated with the RNLI to save countless lives at sea
- Helped Hollywood actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin prepare for icy, high-altitude scenes in the film Everest
With a stellar 35-year career, Professor Tipton’s work has not only pushed science forward but saved lives on land, sea, and screen.
