New Year's Honours List

[Hope]

Was interested to see the range of recipients for these this year - especially the range of ages and reasons.  Most impressed by JonJo Heuerman and his fund-raising activities.  Had hoped to put a link in to the BBC's website, but it seems to be down.

[Aruntraveller]

One name: Barbara Windsor.

What. I mean really WHAT??

Don't get me wrong nothing much against the woman in question. But for goodness sake she is not even a decent actress.

I repeat WHAT!!

[Shaker]

Ah yes, well, you say that, but surely the woman deserves a life peerage and the Order of Merit at the very least for 'that' scene in Carry On Camping.

[Aruntraveller]

Ah yes, well, you say that, but surely the woman deserves a life peerage and the Order of Merit at the very least for 'that' scene in Carry On Camping.

Funnily enough I was running through the gamut of her artistic output in my mind and this is the one scene that stuck out. (Ooh Matron)

[Shaker]

Funnily enough I was running through the gamut of her artistic output in my mind and this is the one scene that stuck out. (Ooh Matron)

There's that. And nobody else who is 4'10" in a bad blonde wig can screech "Geddaaadermypaaaab" like our Babs. Not even close.

[Gordon]

I'd be more interested in seeing a New Year's Dishonorable List - which would at least be more entertaining that the current anachronistic nonsense.

[Hope]

I'd be more interested in seeing a New Year's Dishonorable List - which would at least be more entertaining that the current anachronistic nonsense.

I can think of several members of this place who would be suitable for that list   

[Hope]

I'd be more interested in seeing a New Year's Dishonorable List - which would at least be more entertaining that the current anachronistic nonsense.

On a more serious note, what is the anachronistic bit - that people are honoured for things they do, or who the honours are awarded by (effectively our political representatives).

[Aruntraveller]

On a more serious note, what is the anachronistic bit - that people are honoured for things they do, or who the honours are awarded by (effectively our political representatives).

AFAIAC the anachronistic bit is the reference to empire. Surely it is time to come into at least the latter half of the 20thC and realise that this is, to many around the world, offensive - but to nearly everyone now, outdated.

Perhaps we can have suggestions from posters here for an alternative honours system - as I stiil think it is correct to highlight some people's achievements, as in the example you gave of the splenidid young man who raises money for cancer charities.

[Shaker]

AFAIAC the anachronistic bit is the reference to empire. Surely it is time to come into at least the latter half of the 20thC and realise that this is, to many around the world, offensive - but to nearly everyone now, outdated.

Perhaps we can have suggestions from posters here for an alternative honours system - as I stiil think it is correct to highlight some people's achievements, as in the example you gave of the splenidid young man who raises money for cancer charities.

I would agree that since it's desirable to acknowledge and reward people for their achievements we do need an honours system fit for the twenty-first century, one not tied to a nonexistent concept such as the British Empire (which, as trent points out, many can see as offensive). I don't think it's beyond the wit of man to come up with such a system but I wouldn't like to be involved in its creation as I wouldn't know where to start - some would say that any new system shouldn't be tied to the monarchy either as not everybody likes or supports the idea of hereditary rulership. There's the issue of what the hierarchy of new honours would be called as well - if not the Order of the British Empire, the Order of what?

This is all academic anyway; so long as we have a monarchy there's little likelihood of the present system undergoing any major change.

[ippy]

I'd love to see the list of people that turn the honors down on principle, I have heard it's not that unusual to turn them down.

ippy

[Shaker]

I'd love to see the list of people that turn the honors down on principle, I have heard it's not that unusual to turn them down.

ippy

Not at all unusual - with the bigger honours (knighthoods, etc.) there's an unwritten rule, not enforceable in any real way I think but adhered to by consent, that you don't make it generally known that you've refused. It usually only comes out after death - Vaughan Williams, who didn't like the honours system, turned down everything including a knighthood, as did the actor Trevor Howard IIRC.

Here are some links for you ipster:

https://goo.gl/u6uOR7

http://goo.gl/BjhP0e

[ippy]

Not at all unusual - with the bigger honours (knighthoods, etc.) there's an unwritten rule, not enforceable in any real way I think but adhered to by consent, that you don't make it generally known that you've refused. It usually only comes out after death - Vaughan Williams, who didn't like the honours system, turned down everything including a knighthood, as did the actor Trevor Howard IIRC.

Here are some links for you ipster:

https://goo.gl/u6uOR7

http://goo.gl/BjhP0e

The first link doesn't take me anywhere, the second takes me somewhere that doesn't make any sense?

Thanks for the thought anyway.

ippy   

[Shaker]

They work fine for me ippy - it must be just you 

[floo]

Jonjo Heuerman 13 has received a BEM  in appreciation of his fundraising for Cancer research. I think this lad should have received a higher honour as he is of more merit than some who have received them!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-35198352?ocid=socialflow_twitter&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=twitter

[SqueakyVoice]

The first link doesn't take me anywhere, the second takes me somewhere that doesn't make any sense?

Thanks for the thought anyway.

ippy

The second link took me to the Daily Mail website and that never makes any sense to me either.

[jeremyp]

One name: Barbara Windsor.

What. I mean really WHAT??

Don't get me wrong nothing much against the woman in question. But for goodness sake she is not even a decent actress.

She's a National Treasure and also an ex-gangster's moll.

[OH MY WORLD!]

Thank God Shaker wouldn't know where to start. I shudder to think of a system of his creation.
The Order of Canada has it's amusing moments and it's disgusting ones. I was very impressed when past recipients began returning their medals upon hearing that the baby killer, Henry Morgentaler, was to receive the Order of Canada. That was back under the last lib government of course. I really don't get why some of you Brits get your panties in a twist over ceremony and pomp that is steeped in your history. KEEP IT! If some of you are offended, well cry me a river and perhaps I will try and find you a spine donor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGgASHym3s8

[Shaker]

Even in a thread on the British and Commonwealth honours system the foetus fetishists find a niche.

[Hope]

This is all academic anyway; so long as we have a monarchy there's little likelihood of the present system undergoing any major change.

Its already undergone a considerable change over the last 50 years, Shaker.  There is no reason why it shouldn't change more.  Have to say that I'd like to see no honours going to professional politicians.

[Hope]

The second link took me to the Daily Mail website and that never makes any sense to me either.

The second link goes to an article entitled "Top people who refused honours named"

The first to a wikipedia article entitled "Declining a British honour"

[Shaker]

Its already undergone a considerable change over the last 50 years, Shaker.

What's the considerable change?

[Hope]

What's the considerable change?

The obvious one is that suggestions now come from the public, which they never did in the past.  IIRC, under Blair, the number of political honours was reduced as well.

[Shaker]

The obvious one is that suggestions now come from the public, which they never did in the past.  IIRC, under Blair, the number of political honours was reduced as well.

So nowadays (since when?) a tiny segment of the general public gets a say in who gets a bit of metal on a ribbon still bearing the name of a nonexistent entity (i.e. the British Empire).

That's not the sort of considerable change I had in mind.

[Hope]

So nowadays (since when?) a tiny segment of the general public gets a say in who gets a bit of metal on a ribbon still bearing the name of a nonexistent entity (i.e. the British Empire).

That's not the sort of considerable change I had in mind.

Not a tiny segment at all, Shakes; anyone with an internet connection (and I believe that is currently 85+% of the population) can suggest a name.  I'd agree with the next bit - if nothing else it should be in the name of the (British) Commonwealth rather than Empire.  What other changes would you recommend?