Originally posted by ahinton
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Yes. See https://www.royal.uk/queens-medal-music-2017 -
That is a reasonable analogy, but how do you extend it to the other levels? KBE = Platinum? GBE = ? BEM = also ran?Originally posted by ferneyhoughgeliebte View Post
It is noticeable that the majority of awards of CBE, OBE, and MBE are to people for essentially doing their job reasonably well. In many cases it seems to be an additional retirement gift. A few (e.g. Kenny Dalglish, Jermaine Defoe, Fenella Fielding) have mention of other charity work. By contrast all the BEMs seem to be for voluntary/charity work. In passing one notes that John Major stopped the award of BEM in 1992 (giving MBEs instead). David Cameron brought back the BEM in 2012.Comment
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Hmm! I must declare an interest as a lot of my time in semi-retirement is spent in a rail supporter's groupOriginally posted by LMcD View Post
NOT a train enthusiast's club 
The award to Mark Carne is very badly timed but probably deserved. The Network Rail that he joined was a reign of terror with appalling project management and even senior managers terrified of arguing with the boss. Carne has gone a long way to sorting this out but, as the events of recent weeks have shown, NwR has still got a long way to go. Undoubtedly they are at the root of the problems with Northern Rail and some lot down south - something that certain politicians want to deflect attention from as NwR is, to all intents and purposes, nationalised. There has been some appalling sloppy reporting in the local press (which is basically sympathetic to the Tories) on the lines of "how can late work in Lancashire wreck the train services in Yorkshire?". We were supposed to be getting their diesel trains once their lines were electrified, that's why! That said, these problems have been known about for months and should not have taken anybody by surprise. Some say "why not stick to the old timetables?" The 'paths' have all been re-allocated by NwR, that's why and the less-affected franchises who have taken them over are now using them.
If we are against privatisation let us stick to facts - not "shareholders making profits"; the profits are about 3% of turnover which is why a lot of private firms are not interested and foreign firms, who can borrow money more cheaply for investment, are taking over. And investment IS going on; but it is a bit difficult to believe at the moment
. No, if we want to oppose privatisation let's direct our fire at the fragmentation of the system and the lack of direction (as opposed to interference) from the government.
Not sure what this has to do with Radio 3 but, there you go!
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That's a bit harsh, I think Barry Tuckwell OBE was blowing his own horn.Originally posted by Richard Tarleton View PostComment
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I'd like to think that Sir Simon got his gong for an outstanding "Eugene Onegin" at the ROH and a "Dichterliebe" recording of great beauty of voice and sensitive interpretation.
My life, each morning when I dress, is four and twenty hours less. (J Richardson)Comment
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What Forumistas get up to in private is no business of anybody else.Originally posted by Mal View Post
Thta's quite a few gongs. Perhaps a new Thread for this idea?If so, I nominate the RSNO brass section for their perfomances in Rimsky-Korsakov's tone poems on Chandos.
[FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][B]Numquam Satis![/B][/I][/FONT]Comment
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Originally posted by Once Was 4 View PostHmm! I must declare an interest as a lot of my time in semi-retirement is spent in a rail supporter's group NOT a train enthusiast's club
The award to Mark Carne is very badly timed but probably deserved. The Network Rail that he joined was a reign of terror with appalling project management and even senior managers terrified of arguing with the boss. Carne has gone a long way to sorting this out but, as the events of recent weeks have shown, NwR has still got a long way to go. Undoubtedly they are at the root of the problems with Northern Rail and some lot down south - something that certain politicians want to deflect attention from as NwR is, to all intents and purposes, nationalised. There has been some appalling sloppy reporting in the local press (which is basically sympathetic to the Tories) on the lines of "how can late work in Lancashire wreck the train services in Yorkshire?". We were supposed to be getting their diesel trains once their lines were electrified, that's why! That said, these problems have been known about for months and should not have taken anybody by surprise. Some say "why not stick to the old timetables?" The 'paths' have all been re-allocated by NwR, that's why and the less-affected franchises who have taken them over are now using them.
If we are against privatisation let us stick to facts - not "shareholders making profits"; the profits are about 3% of turnover which is why a lot of private firms are not interested and foreign firms, who can borrow money more cheaply for investment, are taking over. And investment IS going on; but it is a bit difficult to believe at the moment. No, if we want to oppose privatisation let's direct our fire at the fragmentation of the system and the lack of direction (as opposed to interference) from the government.
Not sure what this has to do with Radio 3 but, there you go!
I would say that it has no more, and no less, to do with Radio 3 than, say, the ongoing discussion of the fortunes of various football teams or current news stories or (and here I plead guilty, if that's the word) TV dramas such as 'A Very English Scandal' or 'The Handmaid's Tale'. However, the powers that be have provided a facility for discussion of anything (and everything).....
As for the man who is very nearly the Governor of the Bank of England, I would merely point out that, with the granting of awards as in the world of music, timing is pretty important.Comment
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The Order of the Bad Egg, my granddad called it.Originally posted by Richard Tarleton View PostComment
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I work with a few people who have been members of the Honours Committees that decide these awards. The one thing they are all agreed on is that you don't get an award for just doing your job. I understand that is the most common reason for rejecting a nomination (a common refrain apparently is "yes, but what difference has she/he made; as far as I can see they have just been doing their job"). Doing voluntary/charity work is seen as very important by all the Honours Committees, and will often be the difference between getting an award and not getting one.Originally posted by subcontrabass View Post
The best acronyms I have heard are for the higher awards, CMG and GCMG. Officially CMG stands for "Companion of Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George", but it is also said to mean "Call me God". GCMG = "God calls me God""I do not approve of anything that tampers with natural ignorance. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone. The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever. If it did, it would prove a serious danger to the upper classes, and probably lead to acts of violence in Grosvenor Square."
Lady Bracknell The importance of Being EarnestComment
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... and the knighthood KCMG - 'Kindly Call Me God'Originally posted by LHC View Post
Lordy, but it's all bonkers, ain't it??
Nice difference between les rosbifs and les froggies : the Brits trail their lettersaftertheirname whenever possible, but seldom have a physical distinguishing mark - whereas the French will always have their buttonholes available to advertise their ordre des palmes académiques - ordre du mérite agricole - ordre des arts et des lettres - ordre national du mérite - légion d’honneur ...
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"THERE is likewise another Diversion, which is only shewn before the Emperor and Empress, and first Minister, upon particular Occasions. The Emperor lays on a Table three fine silken Threads of six Inches long. One is Blue, the other Red, and the third Green. These Threads are proposed as Prizes for those Persons whom the Emperor hath a mind to distinguish by a peculiar Mark of his Favour. The Ceremony is performed in his Majesty's great Chamber of State; where the Candidates are to undergo a Tryal of Dexterity very different from the former; and such as I have not observed the least Resemblance of in any other Country of the old or the new World. The Emperor holds a Stick in his Hands, both Ends parallel to the Horizon, while the Candidates advancing one by one, sometimes leap over the Stick, sometimes creep under it backwards and forwards several times, according as the Stick is advanced or depressed. Sometimes the Emperor holds one End of the Stick, and his first Minister the other; sometimes the Minister has it entirely to himself. Whoever performs his Part with most Agility, and holds out the longest in leaping and creeping, is rewarded with the Blue-coloured silk; the Red is given to the next, and the Green to the third, which they all wear girt twice round about the Middle; and you see few great Persons about this Court, who are not adorned with one of these Girdles.
Jonathan Swift : Gulliver's Travels [1726]
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LHC and vinteuil both, see the link in my #23
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... I think the 'original' was in Anthony Sampson's Anatomy of Britain Today [1965], chap 18Originally posted by Richard Tarleton View PostLHC and vinteuil both, see the link in my #23
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What might that make KPMG, I'm trying unsuccessfully not to ask?...Originally posted by vinteuil View PostComment
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