June 2026
Award-winning actor Matthew Rhys has spoken of his joy at the MBE awarded to devoted father and spinal injuries campaigner Rob Blundell.
Rob, 80, has received an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to spinal cord injury research and treatment.
He and his wife Gerri, from Whitchurch in Cardiff, began campaigning following the tragic death of their son, Paul-André. The talented Welsh Under-19s rugby player and close schoolfriend of Matthew Rhys, was paralysed from the chin down after being tackled during a match in 2001.
Known affectionately as P-A, he died unexpectedly just over five months later from a blood clot in his lung. He was just 26.
In response his heartbroken parents founded Trust PA, a charity which has donated over £600,000 for spinal cord injuries awareness and to fund research into treatment and recovery.
Their “EYES UP” Safe Play Rugby campaign was adopted by the Welsh Rugby Union and Rugby Football Union before being incorporated into guidance used by World Rugby.
This has influenced player safety at all levels of the game, and particularly encouraged schoolboy and youth rugby players to protect themselves when going into a tackle to reduce the risk of serious back, neck and spinal cord injuries.
Emmy-award winning actor Matthew Rhys was patron of Trust PA and last year became patron of a new fund set up by Spinal Research to continue P-A’s remarkable legacy.
He said: “No one deserves this more. His and Gerri’s tireless efforts have been as tenacious as they have been Herculean. So incredibly happy to see Rob receive the recognition he so deserves.”
Every two hours someone in the UK is paralysed after a spinal cord injury – it can happen to anyone at any time with devastating consequences for them and their loved ones.
Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity supporting the most promising research and researchers developing cure-orientated therapies. It has worked closely with Trust PA for over 20 years and nominated Rob for his MBE.
Spinal Research Chief Executive Louisa McGinn said: “We could not be more delighted that Rob has been recognised in this very special way.
“He and Gerri are a truly remarkable couple who have taken the worst tragedy that a parent can face and, in their son’s memory, worked tirelessly over the last 25 years to try and make a difference for others.
“Their love and devotion for Paul-André, each other and their elder son Steve, is truly inspirational and Rob so richly deserves this honour.”
For Rob, news of his MBE came as a “totally unexpected but wonderful” surprise. He said: “I was really quite emotional when I was told.
“The truth is there are just so many wonderful people who have helped and supported me over the years – not least my right-hand Gerri, who deserves this even more.
“So, I will be accepting this outstanding honour not just for myself but on behalf of Gerri and everyone else who have been a part of this journey.”
The P-A Blundell Legacy Fund for Spinal Research ensures this remarkable family’s work and their son’s name continues. Money raised supports the next generation of talented researchers through funding three-year PhD studentships in spinal cord repair and restoration.
