New .years .Honours

In the absence of an honours system, something else would have to be devised to trigger a biannual outbreak of moaning which brings the nation together.

From a local paper:

In total 1,123 people will be given an award, of whom 70 per cent will go to people who have undertaken outstanding work in or for their local community.

Seems Ringo Starr does a lot of work for AIDS charities and something to do with mines

So perhaps his is deserved then, out of all the Beatles; another famous person who quietly gets on with helping others without virtue signalling, as George Michael did.

I thought people had to be recommended for honours.
We always thought that someone we know who got an OBE recommended himself several times
Someone else whom we know who did sterling work for charity for over 40 years was recommended several times but had never got anything to my knowledge.

We only hear about the famous ones, so I hope that some of the heroes (and am I allowed to say heroines?) of the past year have received honours too.

I do know a few people who have received honours in the past, usually an MBE or OBE, some more deserved than others imo.

I don't know who said it, but if Darcy Bussell hadn't 'dumbed down' most people wouldn't have heard of her!
Surely they had heard of her when she was dancing even if they had never seen her perform?

Lazigirl the ones who nursed me (staff nurses) were not above washing 'bums' - and very kind and lovely they were too.

Didn’t The Beatles return an honour in their youth? Paul and Ringo are happy to accept them now.

Nurses (qualified ones) don't wash bums anymore trooper

I agree. What's one man's meat is another man's poison. It's not right to say ballet dancers are deserving but not modern dancers. Some modern day song writers are as gifted as poets.

For any one of them I think ‘rubbish ‘. Everyone was paid handsomely for the work that they did. I spent 44 years working as a nurse and a teacher, I was paid for doing that, that was my reward. Giving out ‘honours ‘ is dishonourable to everyone else who has worked hard.

I’ve been a nurse for 40 years and washed more bums than I care to think about. Think I should be honoured ?

I agree with paddyann that the honours as they stand are part of the out of date monarchy system. We haven't had an empire to be a member of for years. As has been said it also smacks of cronyism, we are supposed to have a democracy and I don't believe MPs should be rewarded with knighthoods. Perhaps a different system of acknowledging ordinary folk who give a lot to their communities? BTW dj I saw Danny Boyles "Alternativity". Very heartwarming and an a insight in how things are for ordinary families in the West Bank. I didn't know Danny Boyle refused a knighthood, good for him.

I agree the system is outdated, Ringo Starr --- well! at least Sir Paul writes lovely music and entertained.
Honours should go to people like the Grenfell Towers rescuers, and others in the emergency services, yes they are doing their jobs too, but what different jobs!

I so agree with NanKate it's a travesty that Mary Berry is not a Dame. And sports people are awarded gongs at a younger and younger age, whilst people who have been pursuing their careers for a long time are often ignored or awarded something just before they 'pop their clogs'.

It would be interesting to sit in on the various committee meetings who decide who actually get an award. I gather that many more people are nominated than get an award in the end. Men in grey suits horse trade among themselves who is or is not lucky in any particular year...

Agree that the Honours list has been dumbed down. Let’s just get rid of it.

Missed off the list again. Honestly, this is getting beyond a joke.

(goes off to learn how to ballet dance, sing and write children’s fiction just to be on the safe side)

It said on the news that they are looking at people involved in Grenfell Tower, Manchester and London tragedies for next year. These things are decided a long time in advance.

I dislike the whole anachronistic and cronyism business but my father was put forward for just doing his job as the citation read, but also for his behind the scenes tireless work for charity. Who knew until George Michael died how much good work for charities he did. We can’t presume that all Ringo did was bang drums and read children’s books or that Darcey Bushell just danced. We don’t know what other factors may have resulted in the honour,
But I would still like the whole silly business scrapped.

Why only classical ballet?

Darcy ..... Yes fine on the basis of her contribution to classical ballet.

The Honours have been dumbed down for many years.
Pop stars & knighthoods .....
C R A Z Y !!!!!

There are police bravery awards , my husband received three recomendations , long time ago.

Totally agree Lemongrove the whole lot should go it’s unfair to single some out and not others even in the hero area

Barry Gibb and Ringo Starr— awarded for outliving the rest of their groups. Darcey Bussell- well I always wanted to be her when I was younger so I’ll have the award by proxy.

Two firemen received awards in the North East, as did two policemen.
They can receive the same award as others, or a special police or fire award.