The New Year honours list

by Rachel Humphris on 03/01/2012 15:11:03 in CorpComms Online | share me: del.icio.us | digg | reddit |

Controversy surrounding the honours list this year

About the author:

Rachel Humphris

Rachel Humphris is the head of research for CorpComms Magazine, follow her tweets here @rachel_humphris

The New Year honours list

Who has been recognised this year by the honours list?

There are a few household names such as 81 year old Ronnie Corbett, Clive James and TV presenter Lorraine Kelly.
 
They are pretty good eggs. Why has this year's list sparked so much anger?
 
There are a couple of people on the list who are not such cuddly characters. Controversial figures have been included in the honours due to their services to charity and community. Paul Ruddock, a hedge fund manager who profited from the collapse of Northern Rock (and a donor of the Conservatives) is one of the more contentious choices. 
 
So why was he chosen?
 
He was recognised due to his support of the revival of the Victoria and Albert Museum. He also supports two other art galleries (the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum); is co-founder of Afrikids, a child rights organisation which works in Ghana; and is the major donor for the Performing Arts Centre of the King Edwards School.  
 
Who else caused a stir?
 
Gerald Ronson, chief executive of international property investment company Heron, is awarded a CBE for his philanthropic work. This includes vice president of the NSPCC, donations to the Prince's Trust as well as work with Great Ormond Street Hospital. 
 
It sounds like it was well deserved. What is the problem?
 
He was imprisoned in 1990 for his involvement in a share-trading scandal. He was dubbed one of the 'Guinness four' along with Ernest Saunders, Jack Lyons and Anthony Parnes when they allegedly bought Guinness shares to support the company in its takeover bid for Distillers, a larger drinks company. 
 
Are there any other corporate figures?
 
David Reid, former chairman of supermarket group Tesco, was knighted for services to business and charity. George Iacobescu, chief executive of Canary Wharf group, is also knighted for services to charity. Andrew Witty, chief executive of pharmaceutical giant GSK, also becomes a 'sir'.
 
How many were awarded this year?
 
The list includes 1,290 people receiving 13 different honours. 
 
I had no idea there were so many. It all sounds very confusing. 
 
The key ones are Order of Bath, awarded to civil servants, The Royal Victorian Order, for services to the crown and the Order of the British Empire.
 
What is the Order of British Empire? It sounds very old fashioned to me.
 
It is an order of chivalry established 1917 by George V during World War I to reward services to the war effort. There are five classes: 
  • GBE - Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross
  • KBE - Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
  • CBE - Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
  • OBE - Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
  • MBE - Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
How are they decided?
 
Nominations are submitted either by government departments or by the general public. They are divided into subject areas and assessed by experts in that particular field. Once assessed, a list is produced which is passed to the Queen via the Prime Minister. Once each nominee has accepted the honour the formal list is published in the London Gazette, the official Crown newspaper.
 
When is the next list produced?
 
There are two announcements a year, on New Year's Day and coinciding with the Queen's official birthday on 11th June.
 

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