Saturday 29 December 2012

Priorities Eh?

L/Bdr Parkinson, 27, lost both his legs and suffered brain damage in a Taliban bomb blast in 2006.
After a gruelling rehabilitation process he has learned to walk on two prosthetic legs and has devoted himself to raising money for military charities.
Diane Dernie, his mother, said the honour left her son "absolutely over the moon". She said he was only informed yesterday morning.
Conversely:

Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Miss Phillips will receive a CBE. She said: ‘I am very pleasantly surprised but mostly absolutely thrilled and delighted to receive such a wonderful honour.’

Also receiving a CBE is artist Miss Emin, who made her name with controversial pieces such as a tent decorated with the names of all of her lovers.
The 49-year-old first courted notoriety in 1997 when she appeared on a live TV discussion about the Turner Prize drunk and swearing.

The same year she exhibited ‘Everyone I have Ever Slept With 1963-1995’ a tent appliquéd with names at Charles Saatchi’s Sensation exhibition and then was nominated for the Turner Prize in 1999 with her My Bed installation.
It divided critics, but made her one of the most famous, and well-paid, living artists in the UK.
In descending order of seniority of honours (my emphasis):
  • Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE)
  • Knight Commander or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE)
     
  • Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)
  • Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
       
  • Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
It speaks for itself.

4 comments:

  1. on top of that, we have the letterbox faced troughing cow that used to live in Number 10 receiving a high honour.

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  2. @Anon Yes, I couldn't bring myself to mention her as well in the same post ;-)

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  3. I never take these honours very seriously - always remember the pompous leader of the Oxfordshire County council who signed himself Keith Mitchell CBE. He wrote it everywhere, even inside his shoes so they said.

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  4. And people think our queen is doing a good job carrying out the politicians' diktats?

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