´óÏó´«Ã½

I know the people who wouldn't appear on it: celebrities & 'sports stars'.

Thank goodness we have actors, what would we do without them?

We should scrap this honours system and introduce one with no lnks to royalty. Then we should first honour the thousands of people who have refused honours under the old system.

My neighbour, who for the last 30 years, has served on nearly every local committee, plus being head of the Governors at the Local school for the last 21, despite her children leaving decades ago.

Thats what I call service to the Community

So many of these awards are for people who are already rewarded with high salaries as what they are doing is their JOB, ie, Coronation Street "actors" etc ...
Give awards to the real heroes doing voluntary work to help their communities.

Looks like it's the usual crop - plenty of people 'honoured' for just doing their job with a few who actually deserve them.

I go to work every day.....looking round for my MBE.

I'm a little surprised to see Catherine Zeta Jones on that list; we don't see much of her in the public eye nowadays.

Still I think she's a good actress so I’m not complaining.

Glad to see Fred Dineage gets a MBE, he's been on our screens in the south since I were knee high to a grass hopper.

I have no objection to anyone on the Honours List but why the headline "Zeta Jones heads birthday honours"?. Surely they are headed by the Knights and DBEs!
It is good to see so many so called 'ordinary' people on the list - actuallt they are not 'ordinary' but 'extraordinary'! I would like to see more honours for 'services to charity' not from actors and sportspeople but from the hardworking community based workers!

I think that people who actually do something for the community and who help others should get an MBE rather than giving it to celebrities and sport stars who at the end of the day are doing just their job.

As usual the highest honours go to Execs, Chairmen, and the lowest awards go to the commoners.

this royal honours is complete waste of time beside that its mean nothing to rest of the world. thousands of hardworking peoples in uk doing extra ordinary thinks get ignored on daily basic. our heroes in iraq afghanistan and in london and all other uk cities fighting to protect our country should honoured with special award that can be world wide recognize.

tony-fernandes
newport wales

This really is one of those ancient anachronisms that needs a serious overhaul.

I am like many who know people who unselfishly give more to others & their community every day of their lives who will never be rewarded. To give honours to actors, TV presenters and sportsmen who in this day-and-age are extremely well paid and privaledged in so many ways already is not pleasing to see, it is just insulting to the rest.

It is time the list was taken out of the hands of politicians and royalty and a panel of regular citizens should decide on what honours to bestow on whom based on nominations by the public and an examination of the nominees contributions.

According to this 'Honours' list an actress deserves a higher level of 'honour' than two people who set up a charity to help homecoming wounded service personnel. Tells me everything I need to know.

It's a good job I'll never be 'honoured' for anything, it saves me the trouble of turning it down.

4. At 10:41am on 12 Jun 2010, Clive Hamilton wrote:
My neighbour, who for the last 30 years, has served on nearly every local committee, plus being head of the Governors at the Local school for the last 21, despite her children leaving decades ago.

That's what I call service to the Community
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Would Clive Hamilton like to know that he can nominate his neighbour to get an honour, the more that do the better chance she has to be considered.

Anyone can nominate someone else, it's down to the powers that be on who actually gets the honour.

I agree with people thought that there are a lot of honours given out in the entertainment world and even in sport that really shouldn't get them. We watched the Olympics on TV and when the British won anything, we sat there and said that he/she will get an CBE or OBE, it's become a foregone conclusion that if Britain wins anything an honour will be dished out.

I'm sure that the have a quota to fill in honours and when they don't get enough people, they stick a few more on for good measure, that's probably why some that shouldn't get it, do.

Could we please have an article on the workings of the Honours system and how to go about nominating someone you think is worthy?

It is quite easy, but if you don't know how or where to start can be offputting. Several commentators have already mentioned worthy people that they know about, so let's point them in the right direction to kick the process off to see them recognised.

I wouldn't have an honours list. Such lists get used for the wrong things. Actors, entertainers, sport personalities.Why?

How about our milkman, still working at 84? He know would turn it down, because he says his reward is the weekend banter with his customers when he comes round to collect his money.

Lots of unseen heros, which would give others the motivation to do well themselves.

Maybe honours for Manufacturing and Job creation would be a good new one!

It shows how meaningless the honours system has become when Catherine Zeta-Jones is "recognised" with a CBE. The system is still being used (in part) to recognise loyal supporters of political parties.

No so called celebrities or politicians or bankers for a start.

The whole thing is a waste of public money.

There are 96 pages of names on the NYHL 2010. Hand's up who has read it?

16. At 11:20am on 12 Jun 2010, Megan wrote:
"Could we please have an article on the workings of the Honours system and how to go about nominating someone you think is worthy?
It is quite easy, but if you don't know how or where to start can be offputting. Several commentators have already mentioned worthy people that they know about, so let's point them in the right direction to kick the process off to see them recognised"


The Honours system and Nomination procedure is explained here....




A Nomination Pack can be Downloaded at the above Site

pathetic it a joke
the hero's are not any group or person
mentioned
it the ordanary people who have to put
up with all this rubbish
sports people overpaid most of all lottery funded group
actors and actresses over paid
television personalities over paid ,
Heroes charity a joke
they get good pay good pensions and travel the world
there choice, so instead of giving one a medal and fame
give the regiment one

christmas honours this year will include someone from

Fred Dinage ' childrens tv presenter' - think the ´óÏó´«Ã½ are about 20 years behind with the times. He has done News programmes for adults in South TV area for last 15 years or so.
Just because you win a medal at the Olympics, doesnt mean you deserve a title - just means you are good at sport. Not representing the Country one bit - you win a medal for yourself not England.

Once again we see the people on the list of honours who do very little yet end up with a great deal including recognition by way of honours.
How about a Knighthood for John Hurt for his outstanding contribution to film and television.How about good old Brucie?-he has given endless pleasure to millions of people and continues to do so. Perhaps the time has come for all honours to either be abolished or a new set of honours created for citizens who shine in our society,not because they are celebs but because they actually help people-IE carers !!!Giving millions to charity to avoid tax is no way to receive an honour or just because its your turn!

Honours can never account for the thousands of people who work tirelessly every day without reward in order to make things run correctly and to clean up the mess caused by other people. These are the people in the shadows, at the bottom of businesses and services who constantly make up for the lack of responsibility and management skills by those above them through unpaid overtime. I know of at least one person in this category and they have never and will never be recognised for the countless good deeds that they do.

This bi-annual HYS should be consigned to the bin since no matter what anyone says the honours list will continue to be produced in a miserably myopic way. Does this country rely on "posh tosh" or "salt of the earth" everyday people who seldom get a look in?

(And please do not tell me most of the "lessers" are worthy; the vast majority are linked to those who produce this twaddle.)

I'd never heard of the Parrys until now but it sounds like they deserve it. Not sure the same can be said for the myriad sportsmen and actors who've done their job quite well, but just happen to be in the public eye because they are on the telly. To get a CBE I really hope Catherine Zeta Jones has done a lot of charity work behind closed doors, because I don't feel marrying a Hollywood star and appearing in a few films cuts it: she's already been rewarded for her success beyond the wildest dreams of the person on the street.

I have never been impressed with TV and big screen celebrities. They get paid well for what they do and have a host of awards and accolades to vie for - why honour them in this way?
We all know of good and caring men and women who work tirelessly for others, usually for no financial reward, any one of which deserves acknowledgement more than entertainers.
My choice for being included on the Honours list is a young woman called Ann. She doesn't even know I exist but I am in awe of the dedication and tenderness she showed her dying sister. As well as looking after her own family she took on this task out of love for not only her sister but her three nieces. She wanted to spare the girls the awful experience of watching their much loved mother slowly die. It is people like Ann who truly deserve our respect.

Refer to, and recommend Post #22 @ 11:44am on 12 June 2010 - 'Artemesia'

There is a link on that post which I have used this morning, with some trepidation. It is actually a directgov link that clearly explains the nomination process.

There was also an opportunity to comment, which I did, by suggesting that the said link be permanently available on every local authority and government community website in order for all local unsung heroes and heroines to be acknowledged by their community.

As I see it - if this link was publicly and democratically available - all year round - then we will all know how important the nomination process is by all of us, because awards don't happen by chance - let's open up this site and pass it on?

(23) yes anticipation over christmas honours over
in first place cappello and others if they win
(not a chance)
then one of the services in cumbria
yes and more overpaid outspoken people
who would not survive as england true hero,s do
so lets banish those responsible for there actions
and replace with community rewards
such as youth clubs, entertainment centres for those who
build england yet there children are forgotten
and yes free for all

Fantastic news that the 'Help for Heroes' charity couple received an Honour - well done and well deserved!!

no-one - scrap the whole ridiculous charade

christmas honours
(23) as anticipated england football manager and team
if they win (not a chance)
then someone from the services in cumbria
another group of overpaid actors or actresses
tv presenters or big brother
yes the boring groups

The honours are an excellent way of honouring those who have served the UK to some degree, whether they be famous, sportpersons, or someone who cleans the streets for 40 years. The fact is that many people are acking about the nomination system and how to get nominating!

Well here is a weblink (which the could remove i guess but pls don't - it's an official government link! )

This will take you to what to do.

This archaic system should be consigned to history, together with any benefits paid to the *royal* family. There is no value in rewarding the likes of movie stars or sportsmen/women - most of whom receive far more financial gain than they deserve.

Actually, the film stars and pop stars who are honoured are only a tiny minority of the people who receive awards but they are highlighted disprportionately by the press. This causes understandable derision; it's a pity though, because for every star, there are dozens and dozens who are honoured for exactly the sort of cheerful and unselfish community service that many people here feel should be rewarded.

I attended my husband's investiture at Buckingham Palace several years ago and among those honoured were people who had given years of voluntary, unpaid service to their communities and to charities for brain damaged children, the blind, the disabled etc. and to the old and the young. There were several recipients from ethnic minorities who were delighted to have their contribution to their new society recognised - I remember with particular pleasure the Indian ladies wafting along like colourful butterflies in their lovely saris - it was a very unifying experience. And, of course, there were soldiers receiving their gallantry awards for deeds of amazing heroism .

If we had spreads in newspapers praising these 'extraordinary' ordinary people, the awards would be less despised.

The honours system is just pandering to the queen's ego, and like the whole concept of the royal family is out of date and out of time. Can't anyone spot the redundant term in such as "order of the british empire"?
Sports stars get their honours in the tournaments they win through merit and effort, and OK magazine celebrities - I guess they see theirs as being in their bank account. That should be enough.

Why does the chairman of a large company get a knighthood for just making money but the local man/woman who helps other people or gives a lifetime of service to the comunity gets a minor award there is something wrong with the way these awards are given out.

A lottery ticket each week for nurses or volunteer charity workers to receive an honour.
Actors, entertainers, and other non jobs, or civil servants who expect honours for doing their job, would be disbarred.

The ´óÏó´«Ã½ HYS mods should get an award for having to wade through all the clap-trap that's written here. I sometimes wonder if they ever need therapy, the poor dears...

Sports people already get their reward in cash, the only thing they actually care about.

"Celebs" already get their reward in column-inches, the only thing they actually care about, and that includes the vast majority of politicians (MPs/councillors) who are deluded enough think they're celebrities just because they won a vote.

There's a significantly under-represented group in all these "honours" lists and those are the people who actually make a difference to all of us because of what they do for mankind and not because of their amassed riches or column-inches.

And just because someone makes billions (quietly, and probably largely tax-free) then gives away a spare million or two (out of their pocket change) in a vast blaze of publicity to assuage their consciences does not make them philanthropists, and not worthy of "honours".

My list would be headed by Peter Andre, Kerry Katona and Cheryl Cole. To put up with the kind of publicity they do and come out ahead is an inspiration to young people everywhere.

From the general public, I'd honour all those who cheat on their children's car insurance, tax returns, or supermarket disabled parking, while moaning loudly about MPs' expenses and unemployment benefit fiddles.

I'd give Prince Philip a special award for service to international apologies.

I'd only honour anonymous charity donations because anybody else's motivation has to be at least a little suspicious and egotistical.

Hopefully, that'd further discredit the entire system sufficiently to cause a revolution.

... and don't get me started on civil servants who routinely get honours just for doing their day jobs, for which they are already more than handsomely paid both in cash and job-security, both of which which the overwhelming majority of us are denied.

The only people on it would be people that have improved the lot of another through selfless work or sacrifice, there would be no "stars" allowed be they form the screen or field.

I am always dismayed by the Honours Lists. Soap actors, Olympic gold medal winners and chairmen of multi-national companies getting honours. What about all those police officers on the street who regularly have to put up with being abused, assaulted and sometimes even seriously injured or killed in the line of duty. How about those soldiers and Royal Marines whose lives are at a huge risk every time they go out on the streets of Afghanistan? They are the ones who deserve honours. I also think my best friend should be on that list as he puts up with me xD

Another year another list - packed with people who've given services to this country, fine so far; but what about the people who are listed by their job or grade only, such as "Grade C2, Ministry of Defence" so we've no idea what they've done to merit an honour? If no 'service to' is listed then we have to assume that they're in because of their job or grade. Surely that's not right? If these good people have done something over and above to merit an honour why can't we be told? If they haven't done anything was an hnour in the job description when they applied? Let's clear out the 'honours for some jobs' mentality and focus on people who've done something that we can all be proud of.

seems there are the usual number of high paid tax payer funded recipients who should not be on it

None of the showbiz people - Actor, Actressess, Comedians, Jokers (we have enough of them in the Lords), discredited_ and politicians rejected by the public and ex convicts.

Can anybody really imagine soap actors performing Shakespeare or army top brass at the sharp end? Honours lists have become a joke to a point where there is more honour in not appearing on them.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

For all those complaining that no 'commoners' gets Honours, you might want to actually get the full Honours list before posting. Teh vast majority are normal people. It's the media who give the impression that only big names get Honours.

Also famous people get Honours because they've done something that deserves it. E.g. they've encourages or motivated others in a positive way, or they've earned the respect of their peers, or they've brought distinction to British life, etc.


Full list below:

[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]

The fact that Bruce Forsyth has not been knighted, yet Mick Jagger and Elton John have, shows what an utter farce the honours system is.

A train station announcer and an organist, I don't get it! They were doing their job! At least the guy who got one for services to ploughing raised £100,000 for charity.

To those who deserve their gong I say well done.

All top honours should go to those in the 'Financial Sector' or the Crown Prosecution Service or top officials in the Metropolitan Police for services rendered to Government. 'Sir' Fred Goodwin should be 'Lord Goodwin of Grab' and Tony Blair would become 'Sir' Tone. MBEs and OBEs would then be distributed as 'crowd pleasers'.


Why not? It has always been like that in the past so it must be good enough now. What's changed?

Same old give something to the lower classes to make royalty think its still inportant. A few honours to celebs to keep them on royalties side and a few for charity workers to make out its balanced. Its as bad as the new Years Honours list.

I would use the Toady Bliar system and sell them to highest bidders.

There should local recognition for the selfless acts that many in the communities up and down Britain deserve and that's where is should stop. A civil servant gets a knighthood for do his job an actress takes time out from filming better than not doing anything but really it's like the next gong after an Oscar. To foreigners it may seem cute but it's a relic from the past and that's where it should consigned.

Let's please remember that the celebrities make up a very small amount of the list. News corporations report the celebrities as making the list because of how it pulls in readers. There are hundreds of 'normal' people honoured, and usually no more than 3 or 4 celebrities.


To answer the question directly, I would like to more headlines given to the truly honourable people who made the list.

I believe that the Honour's List should be made up only of those who have served others to a great extent. Famous people get all the glory without this type of thing so it should not be necesary to award them further. Services to or for others should be the only criteria.

Only the person who manages to rid us of both the honours list, and the monarchy, deserves some kind of reward.

it appears that people responding to some comments
have the lack of knowledge to why people get angry with these awards
first yes a small minority of working class get mentioned
what annoys people is tv news papers and even the headlines center on
personalities (local news gives minor people a short lived mention)
most charities it is a team effort not an indevidual military is a team effort not an indevidual,
so instead of awarding a singular reward the full team
zeta jones as her name on a fund raising venture what about all the people doing the work in the background again unsung hero,s where is there reward
doing the right thing does not deserve a title just thanks

Are we allowed to say who WON'T be in any Honours List:

NO HONOURS FOR:

1) Willy Walsh of BA - never.
2) Woodly and Simpson of Unite - never
3) Any member of ACAS - THE most failed and incompetent; secretive and unaccountable government funded organisation, ever, IN 20th AND 21st century history in UK employment relations ever? - never.

All of the above are a complete disgrace. Furthermore, our New Government Coalition are equally disgraceful and should hang their heads in shame by failing to intercede to resolve this and 'save face' of all pathetic egos on both sides?!

Look at the ACAS website - who runs it, who funds it - have ACAS become too lazy and or lost the plot of their purpose?

Look at UNITE website.

Look at BA website.

Look at Coalition Government website, if you can find it, to discover what they are doing to fix BA strikes?

I think Marguerite Patten should of been made a Dame. If we can give this honour to an Artist, why not someone who has served her profession so admirably for so long and is still regarded as someone to be looked up to and admired.

Why are people so infatuated with celebrities? I was hoping that honors would be bestowed on those with "real" accomplishments.

My surname is Earl; I'm just hoping I get an OBE sometime - think about it!!

I'm with those who say the lollipop who's been out in all weathers for 30 years and been pleasant every day should get one. Sports stars and actors - they get plenty in their pay packet, throwing a party or two (organized by someone else) hardly constitutes "charity work". Now if they sold all their houses (perhaps keeping just the two) and gave the money to charity, that would be different (Freddy Mercury was about the only one in that league).

As for Zeta-Jones - what has she actually done except Darling Buds Of May? Not even close to being a star in my book. The likes of Pavarotti was a star, I don't like his music but he got famous for his undeniable talent, not marrying some old bloke....

There should be no honours list. In fact in a 21st century democracy there should be no royaalty. About time we asked them to give up their privilaged lives and join the rest of us in the grind of working to make ends meet.

All the young soldiers serving in Afghanistan.

Certainly no 'captains of industry', 'celebrities', and civil servants.

John Beddington..?
The man who has totally misled government over the global warming scam..?

Be very lucky to make lots of money by doing nothing especially important,like celebrities and sports people,THEN you get on the honors list.Spend year really supporting your local community and or your country in an unassuming way and you have NO chance.
Scrap it completely,it is outdated and very false.

The award system should recognise people for what they have achieved voluntarily, and not for being a celebrity, a sportsman, a civil servant etc. A volunteer who has run a youth club for decades for deprived kids is an asset to society and should be recognised accordingly, not an aspiring social climber.

The bestowing of these honours is in the main quite arbitrary, and receiving an honour is largely a matter of catching the eye of those in power, hence senior civil servants, sportsmen and actors. Many deserving people are hidden away in the wider population and will go to their graves without having been recognised for what they have done. I therefore question the value of such awards.

Honours have no place in 21st century society and should be scrapped.

I'm surprised to see Zeta-Jones on here a second rate actress that now spends most of her time in USA what exactly has she contributed to this country?
*sigh*
I'd like to see more awards going to normal people in everyday jobs policemen,firemen,paramedics,soldiers all put their lives on the line on a regular basis these are the real heroes.

I think it's wonderful that a shopkeeper and a charity worker from Weatherfield have won awards. These awards should be for ordinary people like that.

Mr Clegg and Mr Cameron should scrap this with the House of Lords. Have a referendom on this to see if the people want it to continue.

Forgot to mention if theres one entertainer that deserves an award its Brucie and i really hope he gets one before he dies (god forbid)

So this list was drawn up by the old Gov? What more indication of their bankruptcy of ideas and integrity do you need? Why Zeta-Jones? And why ´óÏó´«Ã½ do you headline with her? The list makers must have known that was going to happen. Just what has she contributed? Not much tax I bet.
And you didn't mention AT ALL Bill Ashton who has run the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for 45 or so years. NYJO have been on ´óÏó´«Ã½ radio and TV and have cultivated countless jazz musicians in this country. I doubt the West End musical revival could have happened without its graduates.

People who serve their country or society in an exceptional way every day, often putting their own welfare and lives on the line, who don't have the privilege of fame and fortune, and who don't feel the need to constantly tell the world how amazing they are. The armed forces, the emergency services, healthcare professionals, teachers, people who apprehend / incapacitate thieves and muggers to name a few, and without whom the country would be a far worse place than it would be if every single person on this honours list disappeared overnight.

this royalty is complete waste of time & waste of public money. wasting public money on rich peoples who are already rich they dont deserve honours(rich get richer & poort get poorer).this public fund should be given to jobless people to find job or training.if i became pm i will ban all this so call honours and give only people who deserve the most our soldiers(if not for then our country would be run by terrorists)

tony fernandes
newport

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Maintaining an Unique relationship with the Most Adored Her Majesty, the Queen Elizabeth-2 whom we find much different from all the other predecessors in many ways; which even the Most Beautiful Queen may possibly doesn’t know of, this most ordinary is offering his best wishes to Her to transform Her desire into reality for seeing the Country prosper without having a complain of any as expressed through Her birth day Speech to-day on the occasion of Her 84th birth day.

The appearing of Majority of Names of many unrecognized or unsung Heroes in the list is making the List much more attractive in carrying of a weight-age or value over the earlier others or previous lists to describe just a little beauty of it. The way list is different than other normal, let we all act differently seeing each happening of event differently for striking a rightful solution, which shall certainly solve many of our current problems most at ease.

(Dr.M.M.HAZARIKA,PhD)

Does marrying an ageing US film actor to further your career deserve a medal? I don't think so. I am all in favour of awarding ordinary citizens WHO go beyond the call of duty to help others etc. Not awarding overpaid entertainment people & sports celebrities. It brings the whole honours lists into disrepute.

At least the Queen didn't knight Bruce Forsyth! He's an unbearable old has-been now, never mind with a Knighthood! Why should anybody who gets paid FAR too much to do their chosen job get honours? Every one of the brave soldiers serving in the futile wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should have recognition before the showbiz glitterati.Even sports personalities should be kept to a minimum. If they really do something outstanding that benefits the community in general, then possibly give a medal but Peerages, Knighthoods and Dameships should be a privilige, not just something given for turning up at work to do the odd TV appearance or a play.

So an actor gets ridiculous amounts of money for acting they also get Oscars and other awards and we also give them OBE's etc!! People who risk their lives, like Lifeboat personnel, fire officers and ambulance personel etc and those who spend their lives helping others like doctors and nurses and teachers, get no recognition from the nation.
I find that none of those being honoured really deserve anything more than they have and, quite frankly, i feel their money earned is far more than they deserve when so many people die for want of food and basic hygiene!!! The honours list is a blight on the dignity of the nation.

I note that Gold medallist, Any Williams, get an OBE, nothing wrong in that but if it's means Order of the British Empire, What about all the Canadian, and Australians that won gold medals, at the Winter Olympics, where are their OBE's

Zeta Jones for what? Being a second rate actress that married a famous actor? I'm sure she does lots for charity behind the scenes but she's got nothing else to do. How else is she supposed to spend her day if it's not jogging around her estate.

There are some deserving people in society that aren't high profile, in the news or good at football, cycling or rowing. These are the people that should receive these awards.

There's only one award ceremony that I watch and it's "The Pride of Britain". They're ordinary, extra-ordinary people that have done amazing things not for reward or recognition. More of this kind of person please.

Yes, our family are very angry indeed at this year's 'celebrity' honours which are a total wind-up, especially in such difficult times. In fact, a complete slap in all our faces right now for all workers in UK who funded bank bail outs?

Certain 'honours' should have been cancelled by advisers to The Queen, for so-called 'celebrities' this year? Grrrr. Very bad taste and deeply, deeply insulting to a very moderate, yet quietly simmering and very angry population Your Majesty?

Biting my lip on above, but refer to post#22 @ 11:44am on 12 June, 'Artemesia' with a genuine link to directgov how you can, as a citizen, recommend a person in your community who works hard and contributes all year long.

Congratulate the 'founders' of Help for Heroes' charity. Well done, congratulations and thank you with all our hearts.X

The Queen approves the Honours list she does not create it, this list was created by the last government.
With regard to Catherine Zeta Jones, she may not be the greatest actress but she is being honoured for her contribution to the Film Industry AND her charity work.

Who would be in my honours list?

The person who scrapped honours lists.

Medals should be given only to people who risk their lives for others or who dedicate themselves to help the unfortunate. Not another snobby exercise in toadying to the establishment.

People should not get Gongs , Honours and Titles merely for doing there job well. The people that get rewarded are highly paid. The always throw in a couple of charity workers, animal rescuers, and school croing patrol ladies to make the list look better.

I worked my Butt off for thirty years on the sharp end of Inner city policing, together with hundreds of colleagues. I got paid well and enjoyed the work. Then strangely my Chief Constable gets a QPM and a Knighhood. I dont remember seeing him in Riot gear, or getting Puched assaulted or Spat at. He was probally talking it up at Bramshill or still at School at the time. The honours system stinks. Blackslapping, no public official should get any kind of reward for doing his job well. They all on big bucks, some more than the Prime minister. Give gongs to people who are doing exceptional work in exceptional circumstances. Ie Our Armed forces. Not the Generals, but the Grunt soldiers in Dugouts being shot at in Afghanistan.

It's time to scrap the whole thing. It's a joke. It's corrupt and is used for political purposes. It reflects everything bad about society; the rich further rewarding their rich friends. It has no special meaning any more.

Yes they have made a very minimal effort recently to try and include non-famous and non-rich people on the lists but how about just paying these people decent wages instead ? That would be far more of a reward instead of this empty token gesture.

Very bad taste and very bad timing of 'celebrity' honours? Many 'celebrity' honours could have waited in such difficult times for UK population?

Deeply ashamed of our Queen, Government and Country for bestowing 'honours' to 'celebrities'. Very embarrassed indeed. Disgraceful and shallow?

Congratulations to 'Help for Heroes' Charity couple - you make our family and country proud in every way.

Expect this post mentioning the Queen to be rejected by Mods, but still proud to question the badly advised or out of touch 'establishment'?

I totally respect people like Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders and Annie Lennox who I believe have all turned down an offer of an honour. I respect that they have stood by their morals and beliefs and have taken a stand against this horrible medals system.

The honours system should be totally scrapped as it appears that certain people are rewarded for meaningless contributions to society.Local people and military personnel should be rewarded only and all the stars and celebrities should not be unless they pay all their taxes in this country. One gross injustice of the present system is why Bruce Forsyth has not been Knighted for services to entertainment and charitable work - who has he upset?

Margaret John - Plays Mrs Hepplewhite is ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales' "HIGH HOPES" and Doris in "GAVIN & STACEY". 84 years old and a national treasure in Wales.

No-one should get any honour for just doing their job. The Arts, which could disappear tomorrow & just make life a bit more boring but nothing else, gets honours for what - acting - just pretemding they are someone else. Good grief, what is this all about. Actors, artists etc getting glamour for nothing. Something wrong here. If all the paintings in the world burned tomorrow (some minimum Kw) the world would not even flinch. sadly the media looks after itself and some!!