Sir Ray Davies

axisus

I'd ask if there was a cash alternative

ThorpyFX

I can only talk from personal experience, in the military it is massively kept quiet and people are really under a lot of pressure to not reveal any nominations. This is because the odds of a nomination being successful are very very low. I didn't find out until the day the awards were released, although I was supposed to be told the week before. 

Whilst at staff college we had a brief from the civil service office who process the nominations. Ultimately they attempt to ensure fairness and check for deservedness and fraud etc.

On the whole I think that they do a great job because for every headline person you know, there are loads that you don't know, many of which have worked for decades giving their time selflessly to charities etc. 

As to the perceived abuse by politicians etc, this is the bit that I find hard to stomach, and ultimately it seems to dilute the public opinion as to the awards which is a massive shame.  

Chalky

My brother got wind of the nomination, then later the chat whose subtext was "You aren't going to turn it down if you get it, are you?" Then about a week before the honours announcement he got the briefing, embargoed of course.

So plenty of chances to say No Thanks.

That's why I'm cynical of those who turn them down in the self-aggrandising dramatic gesture. And of course, if they'd said No early on then some proverbial old Lollipop Lady might have got the award instead.

proggy

Flink_Poyd said:

What a ridiculous load of old pomp and tosh. 

+ one on that. Having to address someone as Lord or Sir, yeah right, I know what I'd like to call them....

and it rhymes with James Blunt.

shaunm

proggy said:

Flink_Poyd said:

What a ridiculous load of old pomp and tosh. 

+ one on that. Having to address someone as Lord or Sir, yeah right, I know what I'd like to call them....

and it rhymes with James Blunt.

You would call someone that just because someone bestowed a title on them? What a lovely thing to do.

Some are undeserving, sure.  Then there are others that do deserve such as Sir Tim Berners- Lee who changed the world. 

57Deluxe

anyone who can write songs about cullinary favourites probbo deserves it...

scrumhalf

Radio 5Live celebrated Ray's knighthood yesterday by playing the intro to "You Really Got Me". Rather like celebrating Andy Murray's knighthood by showing pictures of ice speedway.