No Knighthood for Bruce

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Shinyperson

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by mindyann:
“Don't forget that Chris was a gold medalist in 2004 - and is still Olympic Champion at that event 'cos the Powers that Be in their wisdom cut his event from the shedule. Rather than sulk, Christ just got on with the job of being coming a champion in other discaplines too.

He is World Champion (and has been over the intervening years) and took 3 medals at one games, something not done for 100 or so years.

The cyclists don't just pop out of the cuboard every 4 years just for the Olympics. They are training and competing and winning all the time. Mark Cavendish - who seems to be forgotten because he was the only team member not to medal - had a fabulous year, breaking all sorts of records in the Tour de France, and Brad Wiggins only opted out the Tour this year to concentrate on the Olympics.

Chris has been a part of the Cycling Team since before the days the money kicked in. When there was no equipment and to get to the events in Belgium he had to pay for himself (and bike) to travel and when the bike wheels had to be shared.

<dismounts from hobby horse >

Having said that, I was disappointed for Ben Ainslie - I think he got the CBE?”

I know - I watch the cycling events outside of the Olympics - I wasn't trying to take away from Chris Hoy, who I think is incredible. I just think that Ben Ainslie who has medalled in the Olympics for 12 years now (three golds and one silver) should be up there getting Knighted as well because I believe his achievements are also brilliant and as he cannot multi-event at one Olympics he gets over shadowed by those that can (but I'll have to accept his CBE with a smile and good grace).

I'm also disappointed that Rebecca Addlington didn't get at least a CBE considering her two gold medals were outstanding (her OBE is two ranks lower than the Knighthood). The system is quite messed up really.

dome

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by mossy2103:
“So, on that basis, should Chris Hoy deserve one to add to his MBE (which he apparently received in the 2005 New Years Honours)?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hoy#Honours

And that does seem to blow a hole in that 5-year rule as mentioned in the first post.”

Chris Hoy has done more for the country and on the world stage than Bruce who is an overpaid 'entertainer' imo.

Shinyperson

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by dome:
“Chris Hoy has done more for the country and on the world stage than Bruce who is an overpaid 'entertainer' imo.”

But no one is saying that Bruce should get one instead of Chris Hoy.

hiua6c

31-12-2008

I don't really care - think asking Zara to say hello to her mother for him could have been seen as sucking up but I suppose you've got to try!

Matt Pinsent was upped from a CBE to a Knight not sure if he waited 5 years he got the first after the 2000 Olympics (so awarded 2001?) then the second after the 2004 Olympics (awarded 2005?) so is that four years or five - of course there is EVERY chance I have my facts/dates wrong here

Isn't her Maj (Gawd bless her!

) also able to award some of our Dancers gongs as they come from Commonwealth countries although they may be honorary ones!

CaroUK

31-12-2008

Ben Ainslie was robbed - he has medalled in every Olympics since Atlanta - 1 silver (by a very narrow margin - it should have been gold then) and 3 gold so richly deserves his K

And yes the Commonwealth citizens are eligible for honours too - in their own Division

BuddyBontheNet

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by dome:
“Chris Hoy has done more for the country and on the world stage than Bruce who is an overpaid 'entertainer' imo.”

I agree 100% that Chris Hoy has raised the profile of British cycling - but you have no way of knowing what charity work Bruce has done over his long career and one award doesn't have to cancel out the other.

Presumably Bruce would be in the 'entertainment' group and Chris would be in the 'sports' group. Given the wide range of 'sirs' that have come from the 'entertainment' group, I also think that Bruce must have upset the powers that be somewhere along the line - it is sticking out like a sore thumb now that he isn't a 'Sir' given his age.

mossy2103

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by SCD-Observer:
“That said, he already had a CBE, and is paid VERY well for his job. Why does everyone say he 'deserves' a knighthood?”

Continued services to broadcasting, continued services to charity, continued services to entertainment .......

mossy2103

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by Shinyperson:
“But no one is saying that Bruce should get one instead of Chris Hoy.”

And I certainly did not say that CH was not deserving of one.

woo1

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by martyboy:
“The item on News 24 will probably be repeated occasionally during the day. I thought it was quite intreresting. It's worth tuning in for.

The speaker was explaining how some attempt was being made to try to inroduce some sort of consistency through the honours system.

He explained how each extra gold model a sportsman/woman won ranked them up by one level in the system. He compared Lewis Hamilton's MBE with Damian Hill's honour when he became World champion (which was not consistent), etc.

On the subject of BF, he also noted that there had been "internet campaigns" to get him a Knighthood, and said that the honours system was not driven by the demands of the internet.”

LOL - they do realise that the internet is actually just an enormous gathering of computer file systems* containing the opinions of the citizens of the country - i wonder sometimes if some of these Whitehall types think it is actually a sentient being! Or maybe it is just the way posh people refer to the common folk these days!

* Other definitions of the internet are available

SCD-Observer

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by mossy2103:
“Continued services to broadcasting, continued services to charity, continued services to entertainment .......”

And being paid £££ for it. Lots of it.

As for CONTINUING services to entertainment? That's arguable. But I won't go there.

mossy2103

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by SCD-Observer:
“And being paid £££ for it. Lots of it.

As for CONTINUING services to entertainment? That's arguable. But I won't go there.”

Right or wrong, many honours are dispensed to people who are simply doing their job and who are paid rather well for doing so (civil servants for example)

pasodabble

31-12-2008

Whilst I won't begrudge him a knighthood should he get one, what exactly has Bruce done between 2006 and now to deserve an upgrade? He's doing exactly what was doing when he got the CBE for i.e. presenting Strictly once a week for 3 months.

We have a similar (but monetary) honours system in medicine - Link for anyone interested - but to move up a category the person in question has to show evidence of services above and beyond what the earlier award was given for. We're always told to think about it the same way we think about the honours system when we apply for them, so I imagine this is what has caused the "delay" - not a time limit or anyone he may have upset along the way.

Monaogg

31-12-2008

Well I for one am very glad Terry Pratchett got one.

SCD-Observer

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by mossy2103:
“Right or wrong, many honours are dispensed to people who are simply doing their job and who are paid rather well for doing so (civil servants for example)”

Just to let you know, though I think he's receiving honours already with MBE and CBE, I don't think this cry of 'he deserves knighthood' is warranted. Not to comment whether I think Mick Jagger should be rightfully be given the title 'Sir' (holding my puke)...

mindyann

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by Monaogg:
“Well I for one am very glad Terry Pratchett got one. ”

Deffo

dome

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by Shinyperson:
“But no one is saying that Bruce should get one instead of Chris Hoy.”

I was answering the comparison that was used.

Chris Hoy has done and achieved more than Bruce, since the last honour was bestowed on him.

Muggsy

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by Monaogg:
“Well I for one am very glad Terry Pratchett got one. ”

Me too.

mindyann

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by Shinyperson:
“But no one is saying that Bruce should get one instead of Chris Hoy.”

That's it really. It's not an either/or situation. Chris being honoured didn't stop Bruce being honoured.

Actually, I don't think that anyone from the entertainment side of things has recieved a Knighthood or Damehood this time round

Voxers

31-12-2008

Maybe we should make sitting down an Olympic event. Bruce could then enter this in the 2012 Olympics and (hopefully) win the gold medal, meaning an automatic honour for him - as per all the other Olympic medal winners in this year's list.

mossy2103

31-12-2008

And a bit of perspective on the whole awards thing:

Quote:
“The Treasury’s top official, who was at the helm during the boom before the credit crunch, has been knighted for his role in dealing with Britain’s deepening financial crisis.

The move, as the pound plunged to a record low against the euro and after another slide in house prices, prompted protests that the honour was premature and self-congratulatory.

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Critics said that Nick Macpherson, the Permanent Secretary at the Treasury and on an annual salary of £196,400, had been knighted while it was still too early to claim that the £500 billion banking bailout was a success.

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Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, said: “I would have thought it a rather premature judgment on government policy, which is far from assured of being a success. There is a slight element of self-congratulation about it.”

Michael Fallon, a Tory member of the Commons Treasury Select Committee, said: “This award looks premature: they haven’t solved the banking crisis yet or brought stability to the financial system.” John Redwood, the Conservative backbencher, said: “We don’t want to be claiming victory until the battle is won. This battle isn’t over.””

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5421132.ece

PuzzlePony

31-12-2008

Originally Posted by Voxers:
“Maybe we should make sitting down an Olympic event. Bruce could then enter this in the 2012 Olympics and (hopefully) win the gold medal, meaning an automatic honour for him - as per all the other Olympic medal winners in this year's list.”

I've tried walking on water once, never sitting on it, maybe that was my mistake?

PuzzlePony

31-12-2008

btw on the basis of other entertainment 'achievements' - Brucie should be on the list.

btw again hats off to Terry Pratchett - truly funny.

JackW

31-12-2008

I'm pleased that Chris and especially Terry will get thiers. But,it's beyond belief that Bruce hasn't had one yet! I know he divides opinion,but,someone who has been doing what he has for 66 years (is it?) surely is well beyond time that he should be knighted!

Surely,it's got to happen this year,at somepoint!!

CaroUK

31-12-2008

[quote=mossy2103;29777813]Right or wrong, many honours are dispensed to people who are simply doing their job and who are paid rather well for doing so (civil servants for example)/[quote]

You are under quite a few misconceptions here....

1. Civil Servants are on the whole not very well paid... over 80% of them are in the lowest grades with a MAXIMUM salary of less than £15000 per year.

2. Yes the TOP civil servant in each department usually gets a K at some point in his/her career but compared to the total number of civil servants (around 250,000 or so) there are VERY few honours given to civil servants, and those who DO get them usually get them because they do other things for the community as well (eg youth leaders/ voluntary work etc). They also very rarely get anything other than the MBE (in fact many of them would only have got the BEM before John Major abolished that one!)

I am a retired civil servant and after 30 odd years - not only did I not get a sniff of any honour - I don't actually know any of my many colleagues who did either.

The military now......

Weigh-Man

31-12-2008

Does no one think he may have been offered a Knighthood and turned it down? It seems strange he would'nt be offered one.

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