Letter: Affairs of honour

LETTERS:

Affairs of honour

Sir: A friend of mine, Mrs Phyl McMillan, was included in the New Year Honours as an MBE, having dedicated almost 50 years of her life to the unpaid teaching of disabled swimmers.

When nominating her, I resisted the temptation to suggest a peerage, or a knighthood, rather than a less prestigious honour, because I thought it would be considered inappropriate. I now wonder if I was right. At a time of debate as to how best to modernise the House of Lords, am I alone in questioning the criteria by which honours are awarded?

By way of example only, have not the acting of Sir Nigel Hawthorne and the boxing of Prince Naseem Hamed MBE already been properly recognised by the fame and fortune each has so deservedly achieved?

As the millennium approaches, should a number of honours still be reserved for those who are in paid employment in the civil and diplomatic services and the armed forces?

At least as regards the CBE, OBE and MBE, would it not be preferable if they were awarded for unpaid service to the community and all recipients (rather than simply a majority as at present) had to be nominated by members of the public?

DAVID C BATE QC

London EC4