New Years "Honours" List

[Hibernia Na Eir]

This yearly circus is nothing short of a joke. Any credibility it had vanished when the likes of Yammy Savile was awarded. it seems anyone who can fetch a stick is likely to be a candidate for an "honour". Some recent persons seem to have rolled out their beds and been awarded. Nothing new I guess. Credibility = 0.

[GoldenEagle]

Just about to post similar, it's now about sporting success. I mean FFS Sir Bradley Wiggins.

[Scouse Hibee]

Unfortunately the people that receive awards don't think so, a pity more of them dont make a stand as some have done and tell them to get to **** with their award and all it doesn't stand for.

[jodjam]

Unfortunately the people that receive awards don't think so, a pity more of them dont make a stand as some have done and tell them to get to **** with their award and all it doesn't stand for.

I read earlier that Danny Boyle "politely declined" This was at the very bottom of a lengthy article singing the awards praises.

To me the worst one ever was to Paul Collingwood. He played the last test in the ashes series and scored 11 runs and got the MBE.

[Hibernia Na Eir]

aye, yet again, it appears the majority of those awarded are those who attended educated schools and from affluent backgrounds.

Its a club, nothing more:agree:

[Phil D. Rolls]

aye, yet again, it appears the majority of those awarded are those who attended educated schools and from affluent backgrounds.

Its a club, nothing more:agree:

I don't suppose there is a break down of what schools the recipients attended, and what their economic circumstances were when they were growing up?

[RyeSloan]

Just about to post similar, it's now about sporting success. I mean FFS Sir Bradley Wiggins.

Yet Bradley Wiggins achievement is historically unheard of. Add in a clutch of Olympic golds and you have someone who surely deserves recognition of his efforts and dare I say it 'greatness'

Maybe just being Devils advocate here and I get the fact the honours list is often used to reward chums of chums but in some way they do at least recognise efforts people have made for their country or, as above, where they have achieved outstanding success in a certain field. Should we just ignore people's contributions to our society?

[Scouse Hibee]

aye, yet again, it appears the majority of those awarded are those who attended educated schools and from affluent backgrounds.

Its a club, nothing more:agree:

Only the well publicised ones, I actually know of several folk awarded over the years with no such backgrounds.

[Hibernia Na Eir]

I'd imagine the majority of those recipients over the years are of societys higher class. you can't disagree surely?

[Phil D. Rolls]

I'd imagine the majority of those recipients over the years are of societys higher class. you can't disagree surely?

In my imagination I can't. I think that's how the class system works.

[(((Fergus)))]

No point in crying over the fact you didn't go to a good school and therefore didn't get a mention in the new Years Honours List. You can a) commit yourself to improving yourself from now on and/or b) try to give your own children a better education.

[Lucius Apuleius]

An uncle awarded an MBE many many moons ago for services to education. A companion was awarded one in 1998/99 for services to the potato industry in Scotland. Neither came from any sort of affluence or private schooling. Still not sure how he serviced potatoes though!!!!

[Beefster]

I don't suppose there is a break down of what schools the recipients attended, and what their economic circumstances were when they were growing up?


I'd imagine the majority of those recipients over the years are of societys higher class. you can't disagree surely?

Although I don't particularly like the Honours System, it's a myth that the majority of awards go to public school cronies of those in power. The press may only report those ones but the majority of awards go to 'ordinary' (for want of a better word) folk.

[James70]

No one should receive an award for simply doing the job they are well paid for, eg civil servants, council officials and politicians. While Bradley Wiggin's achievement was special not many people had heard of him before 2012. Knighthoods should only be awarded for years of outstanding achievement or voluntary service. Jock Stein's achievements are well documented but he never received a knighthood despite years of success. The honours system is outdated and should be scrapped.

[Pretty Boy]

The disparity between honours awarded to some able bodied athletes and paralympians seems a bit strange to me.

Sure there is a reason for it but not sure what it is.

[heretoday]

There's not much chance of it happening but I wish they'd get rid of the honours system. Apart from the often curious choices for an honour, it's open to cash inducements and all sorts of political dealings.

If Scotland goes independent, I suppose we'll do away with it. Tough on Andy Murray!

I'd replace the system with local recognition only, for services beyong the call of duty.

[Phil D. Rolls]

There's not much chance of it happening but I wish they'd get rid of the honours system. Apart from the often curious choices for an honour, it's open to cash inducements and all sorts of political dealings.

If Scotland goes independent, I suppose we'll do away with it. Tough on Andy Murray!

I'd replace the system with local recognition only, for services beyong the call of duty.

You could say the same things about military medals. I can see no harm in a system that honours people who have served their country, even if it does mean that some people are prepared to get honours by unfair means. It's not as if there's a limit on these things.

What I can see happening is that more titles will be stripped from people in future, as we are handing out gongs to people who are barely out of school. They've got a whole lifetime of decisions in front of them.

[heretoday]

You could say the same things about military medals. I can see no harm in a system that honours people who have served their country, even if it does mean that some people are prepared to get honours by unfair means. It's not as if there's a limit on these things.

What I can see happening is that more titles will be stripped from people in future, as we are handing out gongs to people who are barely out of school. They've got a whole lifetime of decisions in front of them.

I'll go along with a minimum age for a gong. Thirty? Forty? Giving honours to kids for some sporting achievement is just pandering to the media IMO.

I didn't mean military medals in my post. Can't see much cash for honours corruption there.

[Phil D. Rolls]

I'll go along with a minimum age for a gong. Thirty? Forty? Giving honours to kids for some sporting achievement is just pandering to the media IMO.

I didn't mean military medals in my post. Can't see much cash for honours corruption there.

When you see the number of medals Prince Phillip has, you have to question whether everyone who is decorated deserves it.

[--------]

When you see the number of medals Prince Phillip has, you have to question whether everyone who is decorated deserves it.


Many military awards I'm sure are well-merited, but my Uncle Bill (who served in Burma from 1942 till 1946 under Field-Marshall Bill Slim) always said that in the British Army the bigger the butcher's bill the more medals got thrown around afterwards, especially at the top brass.

Browning, the genius who master-minded the Arnhem debacle ended up KCVO, KBE, CB, DSO; Montgomery and the War office all pretended that nothging had gone wrong at all, that there was nothing to see, and then punted him off to Burma to do his best to get Uncle Bill and his Ghurkas killed by the Japs.

IIRC, the most VCs won in a single day were awarded to the men at Rorke's Drift, which coming the day following the extremely embarrassing massacre of British troops at Isandlwana, and not being the most strategically significant actiuon the British Army has ever fought (however gallant) seems to suggest that old Bill was spot on in his assessment.