As far as I can tell Michael Palin was led a wonderful, rewarding, rich life. He’s well-educated, enjoyed a long run with the brilliant Monty Python team and now he earns money travelling all over the world, then writing about his adventures. The powers that be have decided to reward him even more by giving him a knighthood. Same with Twiggy and Alistair Cook. As I get older, I become more disillusioned with the honours system. Yes, the statistics say that ‘ordinary people’ feature more often these days but few get the top honour and there’s still room for the likes of John Redmond to be lauded for his services to politics.
Last night, I watched a round up of Sports Relief 2018 presented by a young lady with cerebral palsy who needed subtitles. She was word perfect and really cool. Sports Relief Heroes included a man who cycled from Brussels to Barcelona for a thousand pounds and a man who was told he would never walk but managed to complete a hundred metre sponsored one in his local sports hall, a record distance for him.
I wish the front pages were full of the latter kind of people rather than unimaginably privileged celebrities who are going to meet the queen.
John Coltrane played a blues tune about this dichotomy, called Mr Knight. It’s better than a chill pill.
Please post songs about The Honours System.
Thought I’d get in before someone else does. The Divine Comedy – Bang Goes The Knighthood
Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke (for services to being a bit funky, jazzy and souly)
Having successfully nominated someone for a gong I can attest to what a huge difference getting one makes to the lives of ‘ordinary folk’ who are suddenly honoured for their years of quietly beavering away on behalf of their fellow man and woman. Hundreds if not thousands of people get recognised in this way every year.
As for the celebs, they’re already richer and more famous than I’ll ever be so I don’t see what difference getting a gong makes. Can’t see any point in getting exercised about it either. Cook and Southgate were shoe-ins of course.
Quite what Redwood has done to improve anybody’s life is not clear to me.
I think we are on the same page, mike.
Here’s a rendition of Ain’t Nothing Like A Dame by Morecambe and Wise, featuring a very young Sir Clîff Richard.
Since you ask…
Great minds…
My neighbour was awarded one several years ago (for services to education – she volunteers at the village school and is active in the community).
Every time we meet putting the bins out I curtsey, dob my cap and matter “Ma’am”. Makes I larf.
Next time, try singing this song to her. 😉
Anything by Gong
This made me very happy.
“Mike Peters, the frontman of rock band the Alarm, has been made an MBE for services to charity. He has raised thousands for cancer care projects after recovering from the disease.”
https://youtu.be/zzJRDjpPS_I
That makes me happy too. Congratulations to Mike and well deserved.
This has caused a right kerfuffle on The Alarm fans Facebook page (yes thete is one). Some think he should have turned it down as a proud Welsh man with no care for the Royal Family and all it stands for. Others say as it’s for his and his wifes charity work it’s a great thing to that can only help his cause. It’s certainly contentious but he has said this. … https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1899837170142178&id=100003477394073
Did his wife get an award too?
Sir Slithy Tove. How to debase the honours system in two words. John Redwood.
Michael Palin has spent his adult life making people happy. Well deSIRved!
My friend Susan Irvine Russam got an MBE in 2007 for services to social housing in Northern Ireland. Now chief executive of Belfast GEMS Project helping long-term unemployed people get jobs.
I always get annoyed about who gets them and who doesn’t, and yet I find the whole business of this kind of award totally detestable. Awards are for kids. And don’t even start on industry awards. I work(ed) in health insurance/employee benefits for the past 16 years and wild horses couldn’t have dragged me to the health insurance awards, where companies win awards because they are the only people who entered or because the award is sponsored by someone they are pally with. Pathetic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9wdYy3tCm4
That’s the spirit!
Peter O’Toole, John Cleese, Albert Finney and David Bowie all turned them down. Good on them, I say.
I have no ideological opposition to ‘an’ honours system, but it should reward the non-famous charity/community workers. Not Michael bloody Palin.
Benjamin Zephaniah is another who turned down being gonged.
He didn’t feel very comfortable with the “British Empire” part of MBE.
As he’s a descendant of slaves, I can see his point.
“Knights of the Green Shield, stamp and shout” indeed.
with prescient Brexit-anticipating introduction at 00:14
I’m glad you posted that song, so I didn’t have to.
I was lately made an Earl which adds to my OBE.
I am now officially an Earlobe.
Arf!
Probably due to a lifetime of conditioning (my hair looks lovely) but I do tend to scan the list with interest and am genuinely pleased for people like Marc Almond and now Michael Palin when they get recognition. I have known the odd real-life person too who has received a gong through tireless community work and the like and it’s a big thrill.
However, a knighthood for John Redwood is there to shut him up about Brexit. He’ll comply now – because he has got what he wants.
Do you think Mrs May took the advice of G. Love & Special Sauce?
Honour And Harmony
Thought you meant don’t kiss and tell Tiggs
Are you suggesting Sir Redmond and Mrs May had a thing going on?
“Taps nose”