Post by hendo on Apr 11, 2020 11:02:17 GMT
NEW YEARS HONOURS
There is no doubt in my mind that the only names that should appear on the 2021 New Year’s Honour’s list are those of the doctors, nurses, care workers and others who have selflessly risked their life to battle this virus.
This led me to examine the 2020 list in some detail to see what qualification usually warrants these awards.
As expected, there was the usual ‘gongs for the boys’ handed out to men and women who have stuffed sufficient money into the party coffers or those that have hung around Whitehall long enough to receive recognition for hanging around Whitehall long enough, e.g David Williams – for services to Government Finances, Catherine Fogarty – for services to Parliament and Benjamin Simbo – for services to 10 Downing Street. Then there were the groups of vested interests such as the hyphenated bowtie wearers who think opera should replace Match Of The Day and inhabit the stratified levels of culture where the top Civil Servants mingle. There was also a curiously large number (fifteen) of people who were recognised ‘for services to Holocaust Education and Awareness’ which, to me, seemed a little late in the day.
But, thank goodness, there was a large number of hitherto unsung heroes who thoroughly deserved recognition for going way above and beyond the call of duty. These are the genuine stars who demanded no more appreciation than knowing that they were helping others less fortunate than themselves.
Unfortunately they get lumped in with the mob receiving OBEs CBEs and MBEs just for doing their job ..and believe me, there was some pretty obscure jobs on that list.
Ian Curle – for services to the Scotch Whisky Industry, Ruth and Thomas Chapman – for services to the Fashion Retail Industry. Thomas Brown – for services to Scottish Traditional Music. Wendy Shorter-Blake – for services to Upholstery and in the same wtf vein…. Dr Brian Crossley – for services to the Craft of Chair Caning. ..Wow.
But now my favourite entry …..Yes, it’s good old David Adrian Smith – for services to Reversed Glass Ornamental Artistry. Keep it up David. Your country thanks you.
Okay, I’m sorry, perhaps I’m just being churlish and should realise that their contribution really should entitle them to stand shoulder to shoulder with those risking their lives every day working with the sick and deprived. …Yeah, right.
Of course, various famous sportsmen and women headed down to Moss Bros to get suited and booted, before popping into Buck House for tea, biscuits and a limp handshake. The high-profile names were splashed over all the media but let’s not ignore the inclusions of Jacqueline Logan – for services to Same-Sex Ballroom Dancing and Michael Moffitt – for voluntary service to the sport of Canoe Polo.
It makes me proud to be British.
On the other hand, I genuinely applaud the OBE that was handed out to Barry Newton – for services to Grassroots Football in Derbyshire. There are countless ‘Barry Newtons’ up and down the country who deserve thanks for keeping our game alive, but he is a single name on the list. At our own club, we only keep going thanks to the wonderful unpaid volunteers who unstintingly share their skills and give up so much of their valuable time. But despite that, it’s unlikely that they will be showered with deserved decorations.
However, we do have our own Honours list to fall back upon, although, as things haven’t been going so well of late, only a few will be awarded next time we can all get back together.
Firstly, there’s the CBE (Completely Barmy Entourage) which is to be shared jointly by all the amazing Godalming fans who keep turning up for games both home and away despite constantly being let down on the pitch.
The MBE (Most Boring Entertainment) category has had too many entries from matches this season for the judges to have decided on a clear winner.
The OBE (Off the Bench Entrances) is not being awarded in 2020 as Godalming rarely had substitutes on the bench and those that were there were not old enough to have pubic hair.
Congratulations.
There is no doubt in my mind that the only names that should appear on the 2021 New Year’s Honour’s list are those of the doctors, nurses, care workers and others who have selflessly risked their life to battle this virus.
This led me to examine the 2020 list in some detail to see what qualification usually warrants these awards.
As expected, there was the usual ‘gongs for the boys’ handed out to men and women who have stuffed sufficient money into the party coffers or those that have hung around Whitehall long enough to receive recognition for hanging around Whitehall long enough, e.g David Williams – for services to Government Finances, Catherine Fogarty – for services to Parliament and Benjamin Simbo – for services to 10 Downing Street. Then there were the groups of vested interests such as the hyphenated bowtie wearers who think opera should replace Match Of The Day and inhabit the stratified levels of culture where the top Civil Servants mingle. There was also a curiously large number (fifteen) of people who were recognised ‘for services to Holocaust Education and Awareness’ which, to me, seemed a little late in the day.
But, thank goodness, there was a large number of hitherto unsung heroes who thoroughly deserved recognition for going way above and beyond the call of duty. These are the genuine stars who demanded no more appreciation than knowing that they were helping others less fortunate than themselves.
Unfortunately they get lumped in with the mob receiving OBEs CBEs and MBEs just for doing their job ..and believe me, there was some pretty obscure jobs on that list.
Ian Curle – for services to the Scotch Whisky Industry, Ruth and Thomas Chapman – for services to the Fashion Retail Industry. Thomas Brown – for services to Scottish Traditional Music. Wendy Shorter-Blake – for services to Upholstery and in the same wtf vein…. Dr Brian Crossley – for services to the Craft of Chair Caning. ..Wow.
But now my favourite entry …..Yes, it’s good old David Adrian Smith – for services to Reversed Glass Ornamental Artistry. Keep it up David. Your country thanks you.
Okay, I’m sorry, perhaps I’m just being churlish and should realise that their contribution really should entitle them to stand shoulder to shoulder with those risking their lives every day working with the sick and deprived. …Yeah, right.
Of course, various famous sportsmen and women headed down to Moss Bros to get suited and booted, before popping into Buck House for tea, biscuits and a limp handshake. The high-profile names were splashed over all the media but let’s not ignore the inclusions of Jacqueline Logan – for services to Same-Sex Ballroom Dancing and Michael Moffitt – for voluntary service to the sport of Canoe Polo.
It makes me proud to be British.
On the other hand, I genuinely applaud the OBE that was handed out to Barry Newton – for services to Grassroots Football in Derbyshire. There are countless ‘Barry Newtons’ up and down the country who deserve thanks for keeping our game alive, but he is a single name on the list. At our own club, we only keep going thanks to the wonderful unpaid volunteers who unstintingly share their skills and give up so much of their valuable time. But despite that, it’s unlikely that they will be showered with deserved decorations.
However, we do have our own Honours list to fall back upon, although, as things haven’t been going so well of late, only a few will be awarded next time we can all get back together.
Firstly, there’s the CBE (Completely Barmy Entourage) which is to be shared jointly by all the amazing Godalming fans who keep turning up for games both home and away despite constantly being let down on the pitch.
The MBE (Most Boring Entertainment) category has had too many entries from matches this season for the judges to have decided on a clear winner.
The OBE (Off the Bench Entrances) is not being awarded in 2020 as Godalming rarely had substitutes on the bench and those that were there were not old enough to have pubic hair.
Congratulations.