Select Committee on Public Administration Written Evidence


Memorandum by Mrs H P Bostock (HON 74)

  I am writing to support that the Honours System be kept basically as it is. Thousands and thousands of ordinary people deeply appreciate their OBE and MBEs awarded for loyal service given for their work in many, many varied ways.

  There can be no one class of honours only, which is why Sir and Dame should be kept as these are quite rightly awarded for outstanding achievements.

  Honours have, in my opinion, been awarded to a small percentage of people, who should never have been offered one in the first place and over the last few years have accepted and then rejected their honour.

  A very small but vociferous section in this country are seeking to wreck our traditions which have evolved over so many centuries. Traditions and pageantry which bring so many overseas visitors who wish to savour all this wonderful tapestry of life fused over the centuries and still evolving.

  The case for retaining the Honours System was made so poignantly by the investiture by the Queen of the G C to Trooper Christopher Finney for heroic bravery, his name was called first in recognition of this highest of honours second only to the VC.

  I have no honours and never will but I believe in them and we should not just alter things and throw our heritage away.

H P Bostock (Mrs)

March 2004





 
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