New Years Honours List

[ChillDoubt]

The great and the good are duly honoured:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46693826

I agree with some, others not so but invariably that’s how it always is, everyone has their opinions.

[Mamyalynne]

It's clear that out of a total of 1,148 given awards there'll be some we cheer for more loudly than others.

Well done to all.

[shoota]

Chris Packham..... :-(

[ChillDoubt]

Obviously I’m hugely biased but I was hoping Geraint Thomas might be knighted, as the first Welshman to win any of cycling’s Grand Tours(in his case the Tour de France).
Just seems a bit skewed that Gareth Southgate gets the same for winning.....nothing!
C’est la vie.

[Calibax]

So Michael Palin is now a genuine Knight who says, "Ni!"

[ChillDoubt]

I rather like Chris Packham, but I admire anyone who is passionate about wildlife and conservation.
Nice for Palin too, he’s made some fantastic programmes since the Python days.

[ChillDoubt]

Forgot to mention Cooky, richly deserved IMHO.

[Maydup]

Oh no, dont get me started on this!

[gness]

Chris Packham.......adore the man ..... excellent news..... :-)

[tonyav]

Three MPs have been given knighthoods for political service - Labour's Alan Campbell, and Conservatives John Redwood and Gary Streeter.

Good god, a knighthood for what they were elected to do.

[birdie1971]

I disagree with a great many of them. Why?

Because they have invariably done “great” things, not necessarily for the good of others, but primarily for themselves. I don't deny that some of them have helped a lot of people on the way but that wasn’t their goal. Their goal was personal aggrandisement and wealth.

I would like to see the honours list *primarily* comprise of 'ordinary' people who have selflessly given their time and sometimes their money to help those less fortunate than themselves. These are the 'nobodies' in society who do things not for their own benefit or their own 'brand' but instead do things out of the goodness of their hearts.

Knighthoods for Alastair Cook and Philip Pullman? Really? A very good cricketer and a very good author. They deserve knighthoods? Sheesh! Not in my book they don't – and I'm a Pullman fan.

[Mamyalynne]

//In total, 70% of awards in the New Year’s Honours list will go to people who have undertaken outstanding work in or for their local community.//

[birdie1971]

Mamyalynne

OK. I stand corrected!

[Mamyalynne]

It's a long list Birdie, the mainstream tend to post the names folk know.

Happy New Year x

[birdie1971]

I still don't think that the likes of Pullman etc. deserve to be knighted. One of my favourite authors of all time is/was Terry Pratchett. He too was awarded a knighthood despite him remarking that he wrote books to entertain himself rather than others. He famously said, “Writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.”.

Did he deserve a knighthood? In my opinion, no. Was he brilliant? In, my opinion, yes.

[birdie1971]

Happy New Year to you too! Have a good un.

[THECORBYLOON]

BIRDIE, have you recommended an "ordinary" person be awarded an honour?

[ChillDoubt]

I still don't think that the likes of Pullman etc. deserve to be knighted. One of my favourite authors of all time is/was Terry Pratchett. He too was awarded a knighthood despite him remarking that he wrote books to entertain himself rather than others.
—————
Yet he had no qualms about putting them into print and making a fortune, so good luck to him(not that he’s had much lately with his cruel illness).
Furthermore, neither refused their awards as some do so they didn’t have a problem being honoured in such a manner.

[aelmpvw]

my letter confirming my honour must be lost in the post

[Khandro]

Far too many of them, they are scattered around like confetti. The whole thing would be more meaningful if it was restricted to about 25.

[Old_Geezer]

My opinion is that it's difficult to identify a genuine case worthy of national honour, and most selected seem to be a puzzle as it appears they get it for doing their normal job, or for being well known. Maybe other less honourable reasons. It's probably high time it was scrapped.