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Original poster

Would you accept an Honour?

69 replies

BlueBloodedBlue · 03/01/2022 11:08

Assuming you'd done something to deserve it.

Just reading about the people that have turned them down, Stephen Hawking, David, Bowie, French and Saunders, Alan Bennett among many others.

Assuming I was proud of what I'd done to be offered it, I think I would accept. BluebloodedBlue OBE or Lady BBB sounds good to me Grin

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 03/01/2022 13:36

No

TorringtonDean · 03/01/2022 13:39

If like a seat in the House of Lords with the £330-a-day allowance for signing in and some very cosy tea rooms to relax in. Baroness Torrington of Dean please! How to I apply?

Alexandra2001 · 03/01/2022 13:44

Never in a million years.

No one deserves to be called a Sir/Dame, certainly not folk who have become extremely wealthy through their job or sport.

Very pleased some turn them down, Dawn French has recently moved near to me, i will have to buy her a drink :)

Kite22 · 03/01/2022 13:48

Yes, because if I were to be offered one, it would be for 40 years of volunteering and could be used to highlight all the people who do that, all the time.
I would be embarrassed to be offered on for going to work / doing my job that I am paid for (not likely to happen either).

Yes, I'm not embarrassed to say I'd love to be an invited guest at Buckingham Palace, however uncool that makes me o this thread.

Iwouldliketogovegan · 03/01/2022 14:10

Name changed for this one in case outing. I was offered one several years ago and was thrilled to know that colleagues and others had put a lot of effort into nominating me. It felt really important to the problem I have been trying to solve over many years was highlighted and as I could take my family it recognised all the support they had given me. I met lots of fantastic people on the day- ordinary folk like me but who had done extraordinary things like lifelong foster care, lifelong volunteering to run sports clubs for local children, and I felt honoured by being amongst them.

GreenWhiteViolet · 03/01/2022 14:20

No. I'm a republican and I'd feel like a hypocrite if I did.

I'd prefer to see a system of recognising and rewarding ordinary people who have done wonderful things for charities, etc. that didn't involve the monarchy. As it is, some people (Tony Blair, for instance) who are selected aren't deserving at all.

playmelikeasymphony · 03/01/2022 14:32

An acquaintance received a British Empire Medal a few years ago. She lives in a small town and had done a lot of voluntary work. She was featured in local news and said it was actually an honour for the whole town because she couldn’t have done the voluntary work alone, there were many people involved.

I’d probably accept an honour in similar circumstances.

Happylittlethoughts · 03/01/2022 14:42

No. Never

Magicalmattressesinthesnow · 03/01/2022 14:49

Naw . Not a chance as I am a republican . May have accepted when my parents were alive, as they were a generation that still vaguely respected such matters ,but no.

TimBoothseyes · 03/01/2022 14:54

No, mainly because I refuse to curtsey to anybody. Also, the whole honours system is worthless when there is no empire to be a member of.

Poal · 03/01/2022 14:57

I had a family member that always went on about being how they'd turn it down and then they got one and didn't!
I'd like to say I'd turn it down if I got one, but who knows, would honestly depend on why I got it I think.

BurntToastAgain · 03/01/2022 15:00

I’d turn one down for so many reasons.

I could not be involved in anything that even implies a celebration of the British empire. I’m not interested in supporting the royal family. The almost whim-like bestowing of them on those judged ‘worthy’.

Just no. Not something I’d consider being involved with.

FourEyesGood · 03/01/2022 15:10

No. I’m anti-monarchy and the clear links to ‘Empire’ appal me.

Bouledeneige · 04/01/2022 00:17

I did. It was for founding a charity that had National (and international) impact.

OhWhyNot · 04/01/2022 00:29

Of course I would

Lady OhWhyNot has a ring to it

MajorCarolDanvers · 04/01/2022 00:35

I'd be proud and delighted to.

PermanentTemporary · 04/01/2022 00:37

I hope I would turn one down and then shut up about it.

I have a friend who got an honour in the most recent list and she is absolutely delighted and I'm so pleased for her. But I still wish it didn't have anything about the Empire in it.

BeetyAxe · 04/01/2022 00:46

Not a chance, as I would not want to be associated with anything identifying me as British, and definitely wouldn’t want to courtesy to a monarch who has become one simply by accident of birth. The whole thing is ridiculous and a waste of money and effort.

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 04/01/2022 00:47

Oh hell no. I'm with David Bowie on this one.

“I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that.” He added: “I seriously don’t know what it’s for. It’s not what I spent my life working for.”

Bloodybridget · 04/01/2022 02:32

Sure I'd accept! Unless I had reason to feel ashamed of whatever I'd done to be offered it. Two people I know have had gongs for work they've done; they were both delighted, and so was I.

Dogfacepacer · 04/01/2022 02:46

I’d Love one. I’d like a peerage actually. Smile

HemanOrSheRa · 04/01/2022 02:50

@littlebilliie

I think this is an unkind thread, the majority of people who receive them have given more to society than others. It's a national recognition of service.

My friend received one recently for her selfless work. She was amazed and honoured to be recognised. I am very proud of her.

I agree. There are many people who receive a recognition of service. It's not all high profile public figures.
sashh · 04/01/2022 04:16

Only if it would get me into the House of Lords where I think I could do some good.

I'd far rather be in the club of turned down.

I was suprised when Margaret Aspinall and Trevor Hicks accepted them, although I think Margret had a hard time deciding, and in the end did so because a survivor of Hillsborough said it was the right thing to do.

Other awards from different organisations it would depend on the organisation and on whether I thought I deserved it.

MissTrip82 · 04/01/2022 08:26

No.

Some of the most awful, terrible people are rewarded in this way. It is a glittering sham.

Ragwort · 04/01/2022 17:12

But what is 'unkind' about saying you personally wouldn't accept one? Confused. I've done volunteering for over 40 years but I don't need public recognition for that, it's not that I am anti monarchy (I'm not - I've actually worked at BP Grin), but I am just not interested in the actual ceremony and having to dress up for it ....

An acquaintance of mine has just received an honour in this years list ... I was rather surprised she accepted it ... but pleased if it shows recognition for her volunteer work.