The Queen's Birthday Honours refuseniks: The alternative list of those who said 'thanks but no thanks'

About 20 names are missing from this year’s honours list because the people concerned did not want to be on it.

The Government never reveals the names of people who turn down honours, although some have “outed” themselves.

Danny Boyle rejected a knighthood, saying it was “just not me”, while poet Benjamin Zephaniah turned down an OBE. Possibly the most consistent refuser was the artist LS Lowry, who turned down an OBE twice, a CBE and a knighthood, and twice refused to be appointed a Companion of Honour.