EddieB Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 So something like a thousand “worthies” are recipients of titles in the latest New Year Honours list. They seem to include some past beneficiaries, that might still be lacking sufficient acclamation (Sir Elton John, now a Companion of Honour, whatever that does), a lot of sports personalities, a large number of TV cooks and, in deference to Sir John Major’s schemery, a host of “ordinary” people. What’s the point? Perhaps nice that some who wouldn’t otherwise get recognition for good deeds are honoured, but do we really need all the others to enforce a cult of celebrity? At the end of a year where we witnessed the final end of perhaps the most divided and ineffectual Parliament in our history, yet one riddled with titles throughout the House, would it not be time to stop dishing out cheap gongs to all and sundry? But then, if a previous winner of “Bake-off” can be honoured, maybe there is yet scope for ennobling of winners of GMRC - “for services to model railways”, in their citations? 5 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerburnie Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Yep they forgot my services to single handedly trying to keep the Scottish malt whisky industry going too. 2 1 10 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthBrit Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 51 minutes ago, tigerburnie said: Yep they forgot my services to single handedly trying to keep the Scottish malt whisky industry going too. You did not get a 'gong' tigerburnie, because you are not the only one. 1 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted December 28, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 28, 2019 1 minute ago, NorthBrit said: You did not get a 'gong' tigerburnie, because you are not the only one. A 'Joint Venture', however meritorious! 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Popular Post Kingzance Posted December 28, 2019 RMweb Gold Popular Post Share Posted December 28, 2019 It saddens me that our system continues to reward a significant number of people for simply doing what they were employed to do, in some cases not very well too. The celebrity culture is setting a very bad example to the younger generations who see it as a fast route to fame and wealth whilst the people who really do contribute to society and in their own free time are rarely recognised. I am firmly convinced that it would be better to simply close down this system that preserves the class system of centuries ago. 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Hayter Posted December 28, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 28, 2019 5 minutes ago, Kingzance said: It saddens me that our system continues to reward a significant number of people for simply doing what they were employed to do, in some cases not very well too. The celebrity culture is setting a very bad example to the younger generations who see it as a fast route to fame and wealth whilst the people who really do contribute to society and in their own free time are rarely recognised. I am firmly convinced that it would be better to simply close down this system that preserves the class system of centuries ago. While I have more than a little sympathy with your sentiment, I think you will find there are more "people who really do contribute to society and in their own free time" than there are members of the glitterati or has been politicians well past their use by date. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Kingzance Posted December 28, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 28, 2019 38 minutes ago, Andy Hayter said: While I have more than a little sympathy with your sentiment, I think you will find there are more "people who really do contribute to society and in their own free time" than there are members of the glitterati or has been politicians well past their use by date. Andy, more than 40% of the total awards go to civil servants and local government officials. Then add the amount that go to celebs and sports personalities plus the awards by political leaders to their supporters and you have less than a quarter of the orders of MBEs and above going to the groups I fear are not properly recognised. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 4 hours ago, EddieB said: Sir Elton John, now a Companion of Honour, whatever that does), a lot of sports personalities, a large number of TV cooks ... do we really need all the others to enforce a cult of celebrity? Some might say: There is something of an irony in your complaint about a cult of celebrity. Which mentions celebrities, but does not name any of the "people who really do contribute to society and in their own free time". That is, the complaint itself helps persist the very thing it is complaining about! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Hayter Posted December 28, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 28, 2019 24 minutes ago, Kingzance said: Andy, more than 40% of the total awards go to civil servants and local government officials. Then add the amount that go to celebs and sports personalities plus the awards by political leaders to their supporters and you have less than a quarter of the orders of MBEs and above going to the groups I fear are not properly recognised. "But more than two-thirds of those recognised are everyday heroes, community organisers, war veterans and charity campaigners - from the 13-year-old fundraiser to the 94-year-old D-Day veteran whose humility moved a BBC interviewer to tears." It is of course only the Mirror and therefore has to be taken with some salt (rather more than a pinch perhaps). https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/new-year-honours-list-full-21171449 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted December 28, 2019 Author Share Posted December 28, 2019 2 minutes ago, KeithMacdonald said: Some might say: There is something of an irony in your complaint about a cult of celebrity. Which mentions celebrities, but does not name any of the "people who really do contribute to society and in their own free time". That is, the complaint itself helps persist the very thing it is complaining about! The trouble is that when it comes down to “ordinary people”, the honours system cannot stretch and adopts a stance of tokenism. So we honour one school crossing patrol person, a bus conductor (before they were phased out) - even better if they are from a minority in society - but all in all a kind of pour encourager les autres. What I would say is that the average nurse, policeman, fireman (either gender), schoolteacher, soup kitchen volunteer, model railway magazine editor (either gender), etc. are generally more deserving than named celebrities, over-promoted civil serpents and unnamed totemics. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapford34102 Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Be interested to know who turned down an "Honour" this time round Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted December 28, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 28, 2019 Let's not forget the awards to very senior civil servants, who may be given Call Me God (CMG) Kindly Call Me God (KCMG) God Calls Me God (GCMG) The ultimate expression of extra rewards for doing what you are paid to do. But possibly less scandalous than the golden goodbyes paid in the private sector to outgoing chairmen/chief execs, even when they have stuffed up big time. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerburnie Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 The celebrity thing isn't new though is it, back in the black and white days of tv with only 2 channels we had Ted Moult and Lady Isobel Barnet for goodness sake...………………………………... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted December 28, 2019 Author Share Posted December 28, 2019 Yes, but it was never Dame Fanny Craddock MBE, thank goodness. 1 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 (edited) 17 minutes ago, tigerburnie said: The celebrity thing isn't new though is it, back in the black and white days of tv with only 2 channels we had Ted Moult and Lady Isobel Barnet for goodness sake...………………………………... Sir William Shakespeare and all those composers.... I think one of the kings made his favourite jester a Lord and gave him loads of land. And before all the republicans and anti monarchists criticise, Republican France, USA, China and USSR do/did exactly the same. Just under different names. Legion D' Honneur and numerous Soviet Union awards for example. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orders,_decorations,_and_medals_of_the_Soviet_Union Jason Edited December 28, 2019 by Steamport Southport 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted December 28, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 28, 2019 My wifes cousin got one for services to engineering. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny777 Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 In my opinion, the only honour that would need to be given - would be to the brave person who scrapped the honours system. 2 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerburnie Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 For those who missed out...………………………………………..again...……………………………………… https://www.lordtitles.co.uk/ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
burgundy Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 2 hours ago, Oldddudders said: Let's not forget the awards to very senior civil servants, who may be given Call Me God (CMG) Kindly Call Me God (KCMG) God Calls Me God (GCMG) The ultimate expression of extra rewards for doing what you are paid to do. But possibly less scandalous than the golden goodbyes paid in the private sector to outgoing chairmen/chief execs, even when they have stuffed up big time. Put like that, the public sector option seems to offer extremely good value. Best wishes Eric 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefrk Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 I've always thought an honour should be for someone who goes above and beyond the call to help others whether they be volunteers or paid staff and not to someone who just makes their company more money.... Dave. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
micklner Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 8 hours ago, EddieB said: So something like a thousand “worthies” are recipients of titles in the latest New Year Honours list. They seem to include some past beneficiaries, that might still be lacking sufficient acclamation (Sir Elton John, now a Companion of Honour, whatever that does), a lot of sports personalities, a large number of TV cooks and, in deference to Sir John Major’s schemery, a host of “ordinary” people. What’s the point? Perhaps nice that some who wouldn’t otherwise get recognition for good deeds are honoured, but do we really need all the others to enforce a cult of celebrity? At the end of a year where we witnessed the final end of perhaps the most divided and ineffectual Parliament in our history, yet one riddled with titles throughout the House, would it not be time to stop dishing out cheap gongs to all and sundry? But then, if a previous winner of “Bake-off” can be honoured, maybe there is yet scope for ennobling of winners of GMRC - “for services to model railways”, in their citations? One result the "delightful" ex speaker of the house got zip !! As to the vast majority of the rest cronism at its worse. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium rab Posted December 28, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 28, 2019 We should have nominated Andy York for going over and above the call of duty in keeping this forum running while faced with continual criticism 2 9 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted December 28, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 28, 2019 Ooops: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50929543 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 7 hours ago, EddieB said: Yes, but it was never Dame Fanny Craddock MBE, thank goodness. And may all your doughnuts turn out like Fanny's !!! https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03w4t7l I think Johnnie deserved a medal !! Brit15 (VD & Scar) 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted December 28, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 28, 2019 What I do not understand is why a current sitting MP of little popularity across the political spectrum is doing being knighted. Why? He is an MP already. The political appointments and lack of, show cronyism, revenge and nastiness. To be honest pretty unbecoming of a high office of state. And I am being apolitical here. I can think of much worthier ex MPs deserving of one, across the major parties. 1 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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