Updated: 5 May, 2008

Britain - Orders

The Most Noble Order of the Garter

• Order of the Garter Wikipedia Order of the Garter Cabinet Office Order of the Garter The Monarchy Today Knights of the Garter, 1348-present - List of Recipients François Velde  Order of the Garter Royal Hermitage Museum

• Former PM receives UK's highest honour The Queen has appointed former Conservative prime minister John Major as a Knight of the Garter. The former Huntingdon MP becomes the third ex-premier to receive the Order of the Garter, England's highest chivalric honour. The order already includes Baroness Thatcher and Sir Edward Heath, two other ex-Tory leaders. Mr Major's appointment comes after fellow holder of the honour, ex-Labour premier Lord Callaghan, passed away. The Queen has also named Sir Winston Churchill's 82-year old daughter, Lady Soames, as a Lady of the Garter and former lord chief justice Lord Bingham of Cornhill. dehavilland.co.uk 23 Apr 05

• Queen honours her sons during birthday gala Britain's Queen Elizabeth II knighted her two youngest sons during a church ceremony on Sunday, part of ongoing celebrations to mark her 80th birthday. With their newly awarded knighthoods, Princes Andrew, 46, and Edward, 42, join the rest of the immediate royal family in holding Order of the British Empire titles. iol.co.za 24 Apr 06

  • Queen honours Andrew and Edward The Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex have been made Royal Knights of the Garter by the Queen. Andrew and Edward were both appointed to the most senior British order of chivalry on St George's Day amid a weekend of celebrations to mark the Queen's 80th birthday. It recognises their seniority within the Royal Family. The Order of the Garter, established by Edward III in 1348, is in the Queen's personal gift, without advice from government ministers. Knights of the Garter are chosen to honour those who have held public office, who have contributed to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally. The Duke and the Earl, the Queen's middle and youngest sons, are now Royal Knight Companions. Their appointments are additional to the established number of 24 Knight Companions. The two royals now join their father the Duke of Edinburgh, brother the Prince of Wales and sister Princess Royal in the Order. Philip was created a Royal Knight in 1947 - the year he married Princess Elizabeth. Charles was appointed in 1958, the Duke of Kent in 1985, Anne in 1994, the Duke of Gloucester in 1997 and Princess Alexandra in 2003. The non-royal members of the Order include former Prime Ministers Baroness Thatcher and Sir John Major. guardian.co.uk 23 Apr 06

• Prince William given Knight honour Prince William is to join other members of his family as a Royal Knight of the Garter. He becomes a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter - the most senior British order of chivalry - and the 1,000th Knight in the Register. His father the Prince of Wales received the honour in 1958, the Princess Royal in 1994, and the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex two years ago. Members of the Royal family are additional to the established number of 24 Knights Companion. These were depleted by the deaths of former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath and the conqueror of Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary. It was announced that the vacancies would be filled by Lord Luce, who was Lord Chamberlain from 2000 to 2006, and Sir Thomas Dunne, Lord-Lieutenant of Hereford since 1977 and chairman of the Lord Lieutenants Association. ukpress.google.com 23 Apr 08

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle

• The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle Wikipedia Order of the Thistle The Monarchy Today Highest honour for Sutherland One of Scotland’s leading academics was given the country’s highest award by the Queen to mark St Andrew’s day. Former vice-chancellor of Edinburgh University, Lord Sutherland of Houndwood, was made a Knight of the Thistle. The Provost of Eton College, Dr Eric Anderson, received the honour along with Lord Sutherland. The prestigious knighthoods, which are in the Queen’s personal gift, are traditionally conferred on St Andrew’s Day. scotlandonsunday.com Dec 02 Catholics 'excluded' from roll of honour The Scottish Catholic church has demanded an inquiry into an ancient system of patronage which they claim leaves the Queen open to accusations of sectarian bias.  The row began when the church questioned whether the Queen had ever bestowed the highest honour in her gift, the Order of the Thistle, on a Catholic. When the palace confirmed she had not, the church’s official spokesman said the Queen’s advisers owed Scottish Catholics an explanation and described the situation as ‘worrying and regrettable’. Last night, Buckingham Palace insisted the failure to make any Scottish Catholic a member of the Order of the Thistle was pure coincidence. Scotland on Sunday, UK March 2003

• Scot Lords to receive top honour Two leading Lords are to be awarded Scotland's highest honour by the Queen. Former Presiding Officer Lord Steel and ex-Nato Secretary-General Lord Robertson are to become Knights of the Thistle. Lord Steel of Aikwood, a former TV journalist, was leader of the Liberal Party from 1976 to 1988, when he was co-founder of the Social and Liberal Democrats, forerunner of the Liberal Democrats. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, was Labour defence secretary from 1997 to 1999, after which he became Secretary-General of Nato in Brussels. news.bbc.co.uk 30 Nov 04

   

• Queen honours Scottish politicians The Queen has bestowed Scotland's highest honour on two of the country's leading political figures. Peers David Steel and George Robertson have been installed as Knights of the Thistle. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen has held the posts of Nato Secretary-General, Labour Party chairman in Scotland, and UK Defence Secretary. itv.com 7 Jul 06

• • Highest honour for Lord Cullen A former senior judge has been given Scotland's highest honour. Lord Cullen of Whitekirk has been appointed a Knight of the Thistle on St Andrew's Day. He led inquiries into the Pipa Alpha disaster and the Dunblane shootings, and in March 2002 led the five-judge tribunal which heard the failed appeal of the Lockerbie bomber. ukpress.google.com 2 Dec 07
   

The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick

• Order of St. Patrick   Wikipedia

   

• Order of the Bath Wikipedia Order of the Bath (The Monarchy Today) Recipients - Queen's Birthday Honours - 1998 (BBC) (Jun 99) Order of the Bath Recipients - Queen's Birthday Honours - 2000 (BBC) Order of Bath etc Order of the Bath (BBC) Order of the Bath (Companion III Class, Civil, Type I) (Photo) (Sydney B. Vernon) Sir Alexander Colin Cole (KCB, KCVO, Garter King of Arms in 1972-1992) Broken Links - Posted for information purposes only: William Stephens, CB has died aged 88 (Aeronautical scientist responsible for Britain's post-war development of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) technology, guided weapon systems and space launch vehicles)

   

The Order of Merit

• Order of Merit  Wikipedia Royal Insight > Focus > The Order of Merit Order of Merit The UK Honours System Order of Merit Pinetreeweb Sir George Edwards, OM, CBE has died aged 94 Guiding light in the postwar British aircraft industry whose achievements are an indelible part of world aviation history. Appointed MBE in 1945; CBE in 1952; and was knighted in 1957. Awarded the George Taylor Gold Medal (1948); the British Gold Medal for Aeronautics (1952); the Daniel Guggenheim Medal (1959); and the Royal Medal of the Royal Society (1974). More - Valiant More

   

  Web inventor gets Queen's honour The inventor of the world wide web has been awarded the Order of Merit, one of the UK's most prestigious honours. Sir Tim Berners-Lee joins an elite group who have received the honour from the Queen for exceptional contributions in arts, sciences and other areas. The British academic invented the web's address system and layout in Switzerland in 1991, ultimately revolutionising global communication. Previously, he was named Greatest Briton at a ceremony in 2004. Sir Tim was given the honour along with the President of the Royal Society, Lord Rees of Ludlow, and the Rt Rev Lord Eames, ex-Anglican Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh. In 1991, Sir Tim came up with a system to organise, link and browse pages on the net. He created his hypertext program while he was at CERN, the European Particle Physics Laboratory in Geneva. The code he crafted made it far easier for scientists to share their research and information across a fledgling computer network. He is now director of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, where he is based as an academic. news.bbc.co.uk 13 Jun 07

The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India

• The Order Of The Star Of India was an order of knighthood instituted in February 1861, to commemorate the direct assumption of the government of India by Queen Victoria, and subsequently enlarged in 1866, 1875, and 1876. The award was conferred for services rendered to the Indian Empire and consisted of three classes: 1) Knights Grand Commanders (G.C.S.I.) of which there were thirty members, eighteen native and twelve European, excluding the Governor-General; 2) Knights Commanders (K.C.S.I.) of which there were seventy-two; 3) Companions (C.S.I.) of which there were 144. Ref: probertencyclopaedia.com

• Miniature of the Order of the Star of India A very old miniature in gold, silver, enamel and cameo dating from the origins of the order. Ref: antiquesatoz

Order of St. Michael and St. George

• UK civilians honoured for Iraq work More than 50 British civilians have been honoured for their work helping reconstruction efforts in Iraq. The honours list, which awards 41 men and 10 women, recognises work carried out in Iraq since January 2003. Three diplomats received the Companion of the Order of St Michael and Saint George. The prime minister's office confirmed that Dominic Asquith had been made a CMG for the "crucial political role" he played in post-war Iraq as deputy head of the UK mission in Baghdad. Henry Hogger, the former governorate co-ordinator in Basra and Paul Harvey, governorate co-ordinator in Kirkuk were also made CMGs. The Iraqi football team's manager Mark Clarke was awarded an MBE for his work in helping the team to reach the Olympic semi-finals in Athens. Pentonville Prison Governor Gareth Davies was awarded an OBE for work carried out in his former role as director of law and order for southern Iraq. Mandana Hendessi also received an OBE for helping to establish the women's rights group, the Women's Higher Council in Iraq. Others who were honoured in the list include Chief Superintendent Philip Read of West Yorkshire Police, who received an OBE for his work in helping to train the new Iraqi police force. dehavilland.co.uk 4 Dec 04

• Queen to honour former Soviet spy Oleg Gordievsky, the former Soviet Spy who defected to Britain, was honoured by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The one-time KGB colonel may have operated on "Her Majesty's Secret Service" while running intelligence-gathering and espionage for the Soviets in the UK, but his date with the Queen left him full of nerves. He was made a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) - the same accolade held by fictional superspy James Bond. Gordievsky, who became the highest ranking Soviet spy ever to defect to the West, was recognised for services to UK security. ukpress.google.com 19 Oct 07

• Order of St. Michael and St. George (Cabinet Office) Order of St. Michael and St. George (The Monarchy Today) Investiture of H. R. H. Prince Arthur With the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (1870) (Lithograph) Recipients - Queen's Birthday Honours - 1998 (BBC) (Jun 99) Order of St Michael and St George Knight Grand Cross of The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George Awarded to Eduard Shevardnzdze, President of Georgia - Queen's staff lose Knight's Medal – The Queen was embarrassed by her staff last week after they mislaid an honour due to be presented at court to Eduard Shevardnadze, the president of Georgia and the former Soviet foreign minister.  She had to admit to Shevardnadze that her officials could not find the elaborate insignia of an honorary knighthood of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, which she was due to bestow on him. As Shevardnadze, 71, accompanied by his wife, approached the suite where the Queen was to make him a Knight Grand Cross of the Order on Wednesday, she called upon a page to bring her the special presentation box. He could not locate it and a scramble ensued. The Queen was forced to extend the audience, originally scheduled for 20 minutes, to 35 minutes, as the search continued outside the room. The embarrassed Queen and the puzzled Shevardnadzes made small talk through an interpreter as the minutes ticked on.  Eventually, in a day packed with engagements, there was no alternative but to apologise and tell the president, who had come to the palace after meeting Tony Blair at Downing Street, that the award would have to be sent to him. After Shevardnadze, widely credited with having helped to end the cold war alongside Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet president, had left, the box was discovered under the desk of an official in the private secretary's office. It had been thought to be someone's shopping. Later an equerry took the box to Claridges and, on behalf of the Queen, presented it to Shevardnadze. The Georgian embassy declined to comment, but an amused diplomat referred callers to a tiny mention in Thursday's Court Circular which revealed the royal red faces. After stating that the Shevardnadzes had visited the Queen at Buckingham Palace, it added separately that his excellency "later" received the insignia. A palace insider admitted the embarrassment but said the incident should be set alongside the "thousands of honours bestowed each year in the palace and the colossal number of engagements which run perfectly smoothly".  (Ref: Christopher Morgan The Sunday Times – 23 Jul, 2000) Sir David Spedding, KCMG, CVO, OBE has died aged 58 ( Photo - Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service – MI6) FFman tipped for Queen's honour FIANNA Fail's Michael O'Kennedy is expected to be included in the Queen's Honours List when it is published in the New Year. It is understood that the former Republic government minister, who has just stepped down after a five year stint as a co-chair of the British-Irish Parliamentary Body, is being considered for the award Knight Commander of the order of St Michael and St George. This order was founded by King George III in 1818 and is awarded to subjects "who have rendered extraordinary and important services abroad or in the Commonwealth". (Nov 02) GCMG Awarded - The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the advice of Her Majesty’s Tuvalu Ministers, to give orders for the following appointment to the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George: GCMG To be an Ordinary Member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, of the said Most Distinguished Order: His Excellency Sir Tomasi PUAPUA, KBE, Governor-General of Tuvalu. Ref: Mike Smith Dec 02 Royal Honour for Veteran Irish Politician A retired Fianna Fail TD is to become the first former Irish Government minister to accept an honour from the Queen. Michael O’Kennedy, who held six different ministries during a 35-year parliamentary career, has been awarded an honorary Companion, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in recognition of his work as co-chairman of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body (BIIPB). scotsman.com 2 Jul 04 Honours and Awards The QUEEN HAS BEEN GRACIOUSLY PLEASED, ON THE ADVICE OF HER MAJESTY GCMG To be an Ordinary Member of the First Class, or Knight Grand Cross, of the said Most Distinguished Order: His Excellency The Reverend Filoimea TELITO, MBE, GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF TUVALU. (To be dated 12 January 2007.) gazettes-online.co.uk 6 Feb 07

• Queen honours Afghan leader with knighthood Afghan leader Hamid Karzai has been awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen. She handed President Karzai the insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. Ananova, UK - 6 Jun 2003 Queen gives Karzai knighthood BBC News

• Companion of the Indian Empire -- First Issue The first issue of the Order of the Indian Empire was issued, like the Star of India, in one class only. The decoration is unique in its large size with unusually deep and lustrous enamel and the word "INDIA" on the petals. Commemorates the assumption by Queen Victoria of the title Empress of India. Issued for less than two years when it was replaced by the second, smaller type in three classes. Ref: antiquesatoz

The Imperial Order of the Crown of India

The Imperial Order of the Crown of India search.com

Royal Victorian Order

• Royal Victorian Order (Cabinet office) Royal Victorian Order (The Monarchy Today) Queen's Birthday Honours - 1998 (BBC) (Jun98) Royal Victorian Medal (List of recipients) Recipients - Queen's Birthday Honours - 1998 (BBC) (Jun 99) Royal Victorian Order Royal Victorian Medal Pipe-Major Brian MacRae, RVM, has died aged 58   Recipients - Queen's Birthday Honours - 2000 (BBC) Royal Victorian Order and Medals Queen Honours Secretary (Sybil Grant is made a Member of the Victorian Order (MVO) In 1977, she was awarded the Silver Jubilee medal and in 1992, she received the British Empire Medal (BEM) (Jun 00) Butler had received medal Paul Burrell awarded the Royal Victorian Medal on 13 Nov 97 for service to the Royal Family (Diana's butler) (Nov 02) Broken Links - Posted for information purposes only: Queen Honours Commonwealth Secretary-General with GCVO (Mar, 2000) Princess Diana’s Personal Butler received Royal Victorian Medal  (Nov 97) RVO Appointments The Queen has been graciously pleased to make the following appointment to the Royal Victorian Order: CVO To be a Commander: Alexander Kippen Galloway; on retirement as clerk of the Privy Council. (To be dated 14 December 2006).  The Queen has been graciously pleased to award the Royal Victorian Medal (Silver) to the undermentioned: RVM (Silver) Miss Cynthia Mary Wooton; on retirement as senior telephonist, Royal Household. (To be dated 13 December 2006). gazettes-online.co.uk 22 Dec 06 Queen’s special honour for Lord LieutanantThe Queen has conferred a very special honour on her Lord Lieutenant for Ross and Cromarty, Skye and Lochalsh, Captain Roderick Stirling of Fairburn. Captain Stirling, who is battling lung cancer in Raigmore Hospital, has been appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in recognition of his public services to Her Majesty, the local communities in his lieutenancy and elsewhere in Scotland over many years. He received the honour from Vice Lieutenant, Commander Bill Peppe, at a brief ceremony by his hospital bed on Tuesday afternoon. The Queen sent her regrets that she could not attend pesonally to confer the knighthood. ross.shirejournal.co.uk 23 Mar 07

Order of the British Empire

• The Order of the British Empire (Cabinet Office) Order of the British Empire (The Monarchy Today) Order of the British Empire (64 Baker Street)

   
• Recipients - New Years Honour's List 1998:
  • Order of the British Empire, Civil - OBE (part one)  
  • Order of the British Empire, Civil - OBE (part two)  
  • Order of the British Empire, Civil - MBE (part one)  
  • Order of the British Empire, Civil - MBE (part two)  
  • Order of the British Empire, Civil - MBE (part three)  
  • Order of the British Empire, Civil - MBE (part four)  
  • Order of the British Empire, Civil - MBE (part five)  

• Recipients - Queen's Birthday Honours - 1998 (BBC) (Jun98)

  • Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) A - L
• Recipients - Queen's Birthday Honours - 1998 (BBC) (Jun 99)
  • Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) A - L
  • Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) M - Z
  • Civil List - CBE, GBE, DBE and KBE
  • Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
• Recipients - Queen's Birthday Honours - 2000 (BBC)
  • GBEs to KBEs
  • CBEs: A - H
  • CBEs I - W
  • OBEs: A - K
  • OBEs: L - Z
  • MBEs: A - K
  • MBEs: L - Z
• Recipients - Queen's Birthday Honours - 2001 (BBC)
  • DBEs to CBEs
  • OBEs A - M
  • OBEs N - Y
  • MBEs A - C
  • MBEs D - H
  • MBEs I - M
  • MBEs N - S
  • MBEs T - Z
    
• Commander Gains Knighthood – U.S General Wesley Clark, NATO’s supreme allied commander in Europe, has been awarded an honourary knighthood by the Queen for his role in the Balkans, British and NATO sources said yesterday. Buckingham Palace said the knighthood was honourary because Clark is not a British citizen. (Ref: The Toronto Star, 31 March, 2000)

• Edward George, GBE (BBC, Dec 2000)

• Bob Hope receives Honorary Knighthood - May 18, 1998 (CNN)
• Queen honours Steve Redgrave (Britain's greatest Olympian receives his knighthood from the Queen in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace) (Photo) (May 01)

• Colin Clark, CBE has died aged 52 - ( Photo -Chief Executive of Vickers Defence Systems and the engineer responsible for development of the British Army's highly regarded Challenger II battle tank)

• Hugh Fraser, OBE has died aged 79 (Wartime service with SOE to counter-espionage with MI5) (Aug 01)
• Donald Prater, OBE has died aged 83 (Intelligence Officer, Diplomat and writer)
• Brian Richards awarded MBE (Nov, 2000)
• Michael Parkinson awarded CBE (Nov, 2000)
• Denise Lewis Receives OBE (Mar 01) (Mar 01)

• Prince Charles Honours Singer Armatrading (MBE) (Oct 01)

• British Honours for New York’s Finest (New York mayor Rudolf Giuliani is to be awarded an honorary knighthood, while police commissioner Bernard Kerik and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen are to be awarded honorary CBEs) (Oct 01)

• Palace cuts costs by recycling MBEs and OBEs (May 01)  

• James Mark, MBE has died aged 86

• Galliano collects CBE (Designer John Galliano) (Nov 01)

• Hermione Countess of Ranfurly, OBE has died aged 87  

• Schmeichels service honoured More (MBE) (Photo) (Dec 01)

• Jimmy Young, CBE to be Knighted (Dec 01)

• Dudley Moore to receive CBE (Nov 01)

• Prince Charles Presents MBE to Dyfanwen Jones (Jan 02)

• US-born Pearson Boss to be a Dame (Marjorie Scardino, the Texan-born chief executive of Pearson, is to receive one of the highest honours the government can bestow when she is made a dame) (Feb 02)

• Bunny Lewis, OBE has died aged 89 (Cartographer. Joined the Permanent Committee on Geographical Names, which he chaired from 1981 to 1997. He became principal adviser on place names to the Director-General of the UN, and advised the SAS and American Special Forces on military geography) (Jan 02)

• Geoffrey Stephenson. MBE has died aged 90 (Engineer and glider Pilot. Before and during the Second World War his efforts were directed as part of a team in the development of radar. After the war he continued in this field and was project engineer for the mortar-locating radar, codenamed Green Archer. For this work he was appointed MBE in 1962. He continued to be the dominant figure in EMI weapon-locating radar) (Mar 02)

• Wilf Wise, MBE has died aged 85 - gave up the chance to take part in the Great Escape from Stalag Luft 3 on March 23 1944; instead, he stayed behind to maintain a flow of valuable intelligence to London. Wise helped to devise and construct the bellows system which ventilated the escape tunnel, however, the escape coincided with a period in which he was supplying London with important information on V-2 development in the camp's neighbourhood - information which assisted the Allies in making damaging air attacks. Fluent in German, Wise managed to garner tit-bits of intelligence from a variety of sources and to include this in letters to his mother. He was well qualified for this task: before flying operationally he had received instruction in sending coded messages in the event of his being shot down. His letters were intercepted by the Secret Intelligence Service which distilled information from Wise's ostensibly mundane observations and family endearments before forwarding them to his family. In recognition of his activities when a PoW, he was appointed MBE. (Aug 02)

• Life Peerage (Sir Richard (Thomas James) Wilson GCB on his retirement as Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service) (Sep 02)

• Tea and MBEs for two Kabul heroes - A 57-year-old embassy worker, Zahoor Shah, and his colleague, Afzal Syed, 59, were rewarded for their devotion to duty with honorary MBEs in an emotional ceremony on the embassy's lawn. The surreal event was held to honour two veteran Afghan embassy workers who - against all odds - guarded the dusty compound through 23 years of conflict. "You have performed remarkable service over very many years," Britain's new ambassador to Afghanistan, Ronald Nash, told them. "Today we are here to pay tribute to you. You have worked faithfully to protect our embassy. There has been physical danger and war around you ... and you have taken care of our possessions for many years when there was no British ambassador and no British officials." (Aug 02)

• Beadle honoured by Queen (Entertainer Jeremy Beadle is made an MBE by the Queen at Buckingham Palace) (Feb 01)

• Knighthood for Robson - Bobby Robson, the former England coach received a knighthood for services to football. He was made a CBE 12 years ago, and becomes the latest footballing knight, joining Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst, who played in the 1966 World Cup winning team, Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, and Sir Tom Finney, the former Preston North End and England forward. Jason Leonard the rugby union prop forward who was capped 84 times for England, receives an MBE. (Jun 02)

• Queen Honours Poirot The Queen has admitted to being a David Suchet fan as she awarded the Hercule Poirot actor an OBE. (Nov 02) Honours for David Suchet and Norman Jay (Photos) (Nov 02)

• Prince Charles to honour Sir Bobby Evergreen Newcastle United manager Sir Bobby Robson, one of the most popular figures in football, has been knighted at Buckingham Palace. The 69-year-old former England, Barcelona, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven and Ipswich Town boss received his award in the Queen's Jubilee Honours List in the summer and was dubbed by Prince Charles. (Nov 02)

• Celebration honours OBE winner A celebration was held in honour of a community leader after he had been awarded the OBE. Balbir Singh Uppal received his award for 14 years of tireless work as the founder and chairman of Huddersfield's Sadeh Lok Housing Association. (Dec 02)

• Ann Welch, OBE has died aged 85 Aviator who flew 150 aircraft types, from Spitfires onwards, before taking up the cause of hang-gliding and paragliding. MBE in 1953 and advanced to OBE in 1966. (Dec 02)

• Guido Zembsch-Schreve, MBE has died aged 86 Wartime special operations agent who sabotaged V2 missiles and cheated death by foxing the firing squad. Appointed MBE and awarded the French Legion of Honour. The Times Apr 03

• Edward Sniders, MBE has died aged 82 Bomber pilot who, after falling into Gestapo hands in France, spent the war years in relentless escape attempts. Appointed MBE (military). The Times Apr 03

• OBE honour for shoe designer Jimmy Choo  Queen Elizabeth has honoured Datuk Jimmy Choo, Malaysia’s world-renowned fashion shoe designer, with an Honorary Order of the British Empire (OBE), the British High Commission here said in a statement.  (Dec 02)

• MBE honour for college boss Dudley College's vice-principal Sandra Haynes has received her MBE from Prince Charles. Sandra received her award in the new year honours for her work in providing access to education for Asian women. Dudley News, UK - 21 Feb 2003

• Beckham awarded OBE in Queen's birthday honours list: report David Beckham has been awarded the Order of the British Empire, one of the highest civilian honours the Queen can bestow, in her annual honours list, the Press Association reported. Agence France-Presse London, June 7 Becks 'in line for OBE' Ananova Beckham to be awarded special honour by the Queen SABC News, South Africa OBE for role model Beckham - Manchester Evening News David Beckham 'to get OBE' - The Age

• Prince honours the Welsh - in Welsh The Prince of Wales showed off his skills in the Welsh language as he carried out an investiture at Cardiff University for 32 people named in the New Year's Honours List.Among those being honoured was opera singer Bryn Terfel, who was presented with a CBE for services to opera.Receiving an MBE for services to music in Wales was Davy Jones. icWales, UK - 28 Feb 2003

  • Investiture at Cardiff University Professor Rees receives the CBE for services to higher education and to equal opportunities. Another member of University staff, Professor John Percival, formerly Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the School of History and Archaeology, receives the OBE for services to higher education. News Wales, UK 1 Mar 2003

  • Senator calls for Irish honours system Online.ie, Ireland - 25 Feb 2003

• Hansen receives MBE Triple jumper Ashia Hansen received the latest medal for her collection when she picked up her MBE medal at Buckingham Palace. BBC Birmingham, UK  11 Jul 03 Queen's new medal for Ashia icBirmingham, UK - 10 Jul 2003