New .years .Honours

I am not against these honours, the recipients don't receive money . Seems Ringo Starr does a lot of work for AIDS charities and something to do with mines .

Complaints about firemen who were at Grenfel Tower fire is a little unfair, a fireman who enters a burning house is as brave, I know firemen who entered a burning house and saved three children, they are equally as brave, just didn't make the headlines . What difference a fireman who saves lives in north England, Scotland, Wales, to firemen in London?

Danny Boyle refused a knighthood a few years ago.
By the way, did anybody watch his Alternativity from Bethlehem?

Better by far that nobody gets them, and the whole shebang quietly dismantled.

Difficult issue. Someone on tv didn't think pop stars should get these awards. But if music stars can't have them, then why should actors get them? Or authors? And most of us don't think politicians should get them, unless they have done something really impressive for the country. So that really just leaves charity workers, who are the people who really deserve acknowledgement. So maybe they are the only people who should get them. But there are many celebrities who quietly do charity work. So I'm going round in circles here!

I consider myself the world's most avid Beatles fan but I am struggling to understand why Ringo has got this gong. I kind of get it with Sir Paul. The songs he wrote or co-wrote have given so much pleasure to so many people. But Ringo? Maybe they give a lot of money to charity but why wouldn't they when they have millions. I agree with the posts above about so many unsung heroes.

I think the worst part is politicians who cannot get elected to House of Commons being sent to the Lords for political purposes....they actually have some power, quite undemocratically.
The knights and dames just make me think of pantomime. I'd like a list of refuseniks, too!

I see I have been overlooked again in the NY honours list.
Have always thought the whole thing a ‘daftness’ tbh.

On three occasions that I know of (there may have been others) my father-in-law has been nominated for an honour for his voluntary work with carers. He has directly influenced the way carers are included by professional staff working with people who are mentally ill, young carers and carers of dementia sufferers; his work is of national significance. This year his family were delighted when he was honoured by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and his work given the public recognition it deserves. Fortunately he's a very modest man and has no idea that his name was ever put forward for anything else.

We had severe flooding in this area a couple of years back and awards were given by the local community to many adults and children who helped others in the emergency. It was a good idea and has morphed into annual recognition for volunteers locally. The problem is that, at the height of the emergency and in the long, slow aftermath, I know of many people who simply went and did what they could - whether it was housing a neighbour for weeks after that person lost everything... or going around tidying up people's gardens and making things safe for all. It's a lottery about who gets noticed and appreciated and the quiet, unsung heroes are least likely to complain about being missed out of the awards, but it must hurt a wee bit.

I don't know who said it, but if Darcy Bussell hadn't 'dumbed down' most people wouldn't have heard of her!

Have you looked at your local news to find out who has been given one in your local area?
Lots listed in my local paper for services to the community and voluntary services, CAB, charities, etc.
There's a 93 year old who worked at Bletchley Park during the war, but got his honour for charity work.

If any authors should get an award, it should be Michael Morpurgo, for his work in bringing literature to schools.
He has given his whole archive to Seven Stories.

I disagree with the whole idea of honours, particularly as they perpetuate the idea of empire. However, IF there are people who get them, it should be people who give to society, and Morpurgo definitely does that.

The great majority of people on the honours list are not well known at all, but are recognised for their services to the community. Which is as it should be.

Authors, however successful or famous, do not deserve 'honours' durhamjen in my opinion. That is because, in my opinion, nobody deserves these outdated 'honours' however well they have performed their job, or however talented they may be. It may be that individual institutions would wish to recognise outstanding bravery or service, that would be acceptable in my opinion. But the honours system as it is now, is a absolute disgrace, and an affront to anyone who believes in a meritocracy.

Seems it takes time to gather all details, to hand out the same award to a police officer who stopped traffic and a police officer who faced a gunman wouldn't be fair surely?

And what of police officers around the country who save lives ?

dj Many people are put forward for awards and denied. George "Johnny" Johnson, the last surviving dam buster was put forward last year and it was denied. It was only after a public outcry and petition that he was eventually awarded an MBE in November. Apparently the fire officer heroes of Grenfell and the police involved in terrorist attacks are going to be honoured "later" - why not now?

I agree Maddyone!
Thinking about it, I think all those who stelflessly run the People's Kitchen in our city, helping the homeless day after day, week after week, all deserve an award far more than that self serving well off egotistical bunch

Not at all durhamjen I think the whole system should be abolished but the prime reason for me is that no one who has done anything worthwhile is ever honoured I m certainly not saying bring it back biput onky for some more worthy folk I m saying get rid of it and the main reason is because.....There is a difference

Strange how many people say they think the system is wrong and should be got rid of, then complain that nobody they know about was honoured, none of the local people who deserve it. You can't have it both ways.

I wonder if Warhorse is still being staged, and if we'll see Joey being awarded his medal.

Children’s author Michael Morpurgo, 74, said he will "give" his knighthood to the equine character Joey from his acclaimed story War Horse, adding: "I think in a way the only reason this wonderful honour has been given, it is for charity, but it is because, probably if I'm honest with myself, it is about one book.

"And it's about one story and one play, the great good fortune of my writing life in terms of, I suppose, circumstance and bringing the kind of success you can't dream of in terms of rewards and awards - it's the play of War Horse".

Yes, I agree with everyone on here, so I'm glad it's not just me. The honours system is outdated and I feel annoyed every time these so called 'honours' are announced. I know the occasional lollipop lady or whatever is honoured, but that's just a sop that's being thrown to the masses (us) to try to stop us complaining about it. I absolutely loathe this system that rewards people for doing their job, especially if they become famous. Sports personalities, pop stars, entertainers, politicians, civil servants (the highly paid ones), the list goes on. It's totally despicable in my opinion, it's rotten to the core. The amount of cronyism that goes on is truly unbelievable. I absolutely hate the way many politicians end up in the House of Lords, just so they can continue with their self importance, and fleecing the tax payers.

Just in case you didn't gather from my post, I absolutely loathe this system!

Much the same as a lot on the honours list.

I thought that May said that she’s was going to get rid of cronyism?

Another failure!

Suppose we could say they were doing their job ?

I thought people had to be recommended for honours.
Did any of those complaining recommend any of the Grenfell firemen for honours?
Have you looked at your local paper to see the list of police and firemen among others who have been honoured?

I am not against a system which recognises those who have made a contribution to society, but awarding someone for just for doing something they enjoyed and were well paid for is crazy. A former editor of British Vogue has been awarded a CBE having previously been awarded an OBE -why? Eamonn Holmes's only talent appears to be that he can read an auto-cue and be well paid for it. There are so many others who are much more deserving

If nurses were made Dames and Doctors knighted how many would there be?

Unfair to say Darcy has dumbed down, many people enjoy ballroom dancing , how many get to see the Royal Ballet every year?