I've been scanning the New Year Honours List for Northern Ireland and there are four CBEs, fifteen OBEs, thirty-two MBEs, three QPMs and one QFSM; approximately, at any rate. Do not count on my elementary mathematical prowess. Nobody in the Province is sufficiently deserving enough for so much as even a Knight Bachelorhood. Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) ranks at about Number 16 in the Honours scale, the Knighthood of the Garter being Number One - apart from the VC and GC.
Of more interest to me is the considerably higher honour awarded to the outgoing Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, KCB, CBE, MC.
Sir Richard, having been a Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (military division), now becomes a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (GCB breast star pictured right). The GCB comes in at Number Three on the pecking scale now, after the KG and KT.
3 comments :
It may only be a CBE, but he went to CCB!
I imagine, when one makes comparisons and "league tables" of honours, it can unintentionally sound a touch disparaging; or diminishing the achievements people have made.
I consider the CBE a high award. I think there is a fine line, really, between a CBE and a KBE, which is a degree of knighthood.
Hearty congratulations; very well deserved.
A general comment: his lordship was patiently been awaiting his nomination from loyal readers for a modest token as recognition for Services to Blogging, for the past year. Still no smoke signal. If footballers and singers can get 'em, why not Lord Belmont!
Lord Belmont is just envious that he hasn't a gong, yet. :-)
Seriously, though, I relish our Orders, awards and honours; that's why I have so much interest in them all. I could get a degree in it!
Tim
Post a Comment