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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you know anyone who's got an honour (MBE, OBE etc)

102 replies

Schmetterling1 · 06/05/2021 19:37

Posting for traffic as it must be fairly rare! I nominated someone for an award and really hope that they get selected. While I impatiently wait (it's a long old process!) I'm really interested in what it's like to get one or for someone you nominate to get one. I keep amusing myself with imagining how he'll feel if he gets selected (as he so deserves to and although I know not everyone agrees with the honours system, it would mean the world to him) but I don't know what actually happens. I assume you get a letter in the post? What's it like? How long later do you go to the palace? Do you know what royal you're going to meet? I basically just want to read some positive stories because I haven't told him I've nominated him (as it would be horrible for him to know and then NOT get selected) so can't really talk about it but it's on my mind, especially as it's the Queen's birthday list next month so if he phones I keep thinking maybe he's got a letter and then ending up disappointed. Grin

OP posts:
hopeishere · 07/05/2021 08:03

I know someone who got one for her work. She was a massive bully and made loads of her staff miserable.

Memedru · 07/05/2021 08:03

My dads mate got an OBE or MBE, cant remember! He was a serving soldier, he had testicular cancer twice, he set up a charity for testicular cancer, he went on go have a very successful career in the army

spongedog · 07/05/2021 09:25

@YuXV

I'm a civil servant and it's quite common (well, I have known one or two in each department I've worked in) as we have an internal scheme. Also can get nominated to go to the garden party as a special treat.
whats the civil service internal process? The person I know with an MBE got it for doing their job. That puts me off the whole thing, but then you read some of the stories on here and realise that acknowledging service and commitment to others is a good thing for society.
foxtookitaway · 07/05/2021 09:34

My FiL has an MBE, and my grandfather-in-law has an OBE. Both for services to charity

Willyoujustbequiet · 07/05/2021 09:38

My father was nominated for charity work but he asked to be withdrawn when he found out as he always hated fuss/attention. My mum was upset as she was the Hyacinth Bucket type so to placate her they went to one of the garden parties instead.

SciFiScream · 07/05/2021 09:47

My great Uncle has an OBE. I wish I could tell you all about him but if any of my family are on here they'd identify me immediately!

PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears · 07/05/2021 10:18

My mum's cousin has an OBE for services to journalism.

BestZebbie · 07/05/2021 11:17

I've met at least three - one of my friend's parents at school (for inventing something) and two through work (museum/heritage related).

Relatedly, probably my most embarrassing memory is being invited round as my school friends' guest to a posh dinner party to celebrate the parent's award, feeling fine, starting to eat, and then abruptly choking and being sick on the table, right onto my plate (and lap). I was horrified, they were horrified, their other (more distinguished) guests were horrified...

CirclesWithinCircles · 07/05/2021 11:20

I know quite a few, who got them through sport, a couple of whom were also invited to the most recent Royal wedding garden party reception thingy.

Original poster
Schmetterling1 · 07/05/2021 12:56

@BestZebbie Oh my God you poor thing! I’m so sorry!

OP posts:
Original poster
Schmetterling1 · 07/05/2021 12:58

My father was nominated for charity work but he asked to be withdrawn when he found out as he always hated fuss/attention.

Awww bless him. I hate attention too. Saying that, I’d be gutted if the person I nominated withdrew. Don’t think he will though - but I do think he won’t believe it for a second and will bin his letter. Shock

OP posts:
SallySycamore · 07/05/2021 13:02

Two OBEs for services to charity, and one MBE for civil service work.

I was also meant to be helping put together a nomination, but with covid it's ground to a halt.

8bitgame · 07/05/2021 13:05

My boss has an OBE and a few colleagues have MBEs. I work in the education sector so don't think it's that rare.

newnortherner111 · 07/05/2021 13:07

Great uncle had one for work during the war, three people I have worked with, and a long-time family friend who sadly died a couple of years ago.

I understand you are told about a month to six weeks beforehand, which presumably gives enough time to accept or decline (some people have declined though most privately). Not sure about knowing which member of the Royal Family it will be in advance.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 07/05/2021 13:15

I know quite a lot - many work connections (charity sector), but also a civil servant, and a friend who's an entrepreneur.
Probably about 35 in total.

Unicornflakegirl · 07/05/2021 14:18

I know lots of people with Honours, pretty common in the diplomatic service. Some of them were very nice but others had awful reputations for bullying staff.
I think it looks a bit Hmm on an email signature.

Original poster
Schmetterling1 · 07/05/2021 14:28

Maybe not so rare then. I only know one OBE and don’t really know him, just a local man.

OP posts:
MushroomRagu · 07/05/2021 14:36

NC with him but my father has a cbe.

AlbaAlba · 07/05/2021 14:44

Know quite a lot, fairly senior in the civil service, so a handful of colleagues I know (usually people who have done important work in a specific area) get chosen every honours' list. We joke that it's what we get instead of pay-rises.

My music teacher had one too, and he did a lot for children's music, but like a PP mentioned, was known locally for his very 'hands on' approach to teenage girls, though nothing was ever done about it.

My great-uncle had one for engineering.

AlbaAlba · 07/05/2021 14:46

And none of my colleagues put their honour in their email footer, that would get some raised eyebrows. I work internationally and we only even use our academic titles when needing to impress in countries where it's standard to list all the post-nominals.

Original poster
Schmetterling1 · 07/05/2021 20:42

Yeah I can’t imagine he’d put it in his email signature if he won. He’s very humble. That’s all the more reason I want this for him tbh.

OP posts:
CimCardashian · 07/05/2021 20:46

My Mum has an MBE. It was really exciting to go into Buckingham Palace to see her receive it from the Queen.
She got it for service to the RAF

StealthPolarBear · 07/05/2021 20:47

Yes I work with one

Lipsandlashes · 07/05/2021 20:51

I work with a lot of people with honours, mainly for services to their industries. My former boss was given a Knighthood a couple of years ago, which was lovely. He didn’t know which Royal would present it to him until the day but was very pleased that it ended up being the Queen.

Botanica · 07/05/2021 21:02

My grandfather was awarded a CBE and I have amazing memories of us being woken on new years' day early after he went out to get the morning paper and we all had champagne for breakfast! He had been told in advance and I have no idea how on earth he managed to keep it a secret for all those weeks!
There was a maximum of three people allowed to go to the palace for the investiture.
He's no longer with us but am so incredibly proud of his achievements.

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