davieG Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 The author Roald Dahl and artist Lucien Freud are among those who have turned down honours from the Queen, according to official government records. A list of those who declined an honour between 1951 and 1999, and who have since died, has been published for the first time. Until now, the information was so secret it was not included in official papers released under the 30-year rule. It has been made public following a Freedom of Information request. News of people refusing an OBE, CBE or knighthood in the annual New Year or Birthday Honours list normally only comes to light if they volunteer the information themselves or reports are leaked. In total 277 people are named on the list including the painters Francis Bacon and LS Lowry, the sculptor Henry Moore and novelist Aldous Huxley. John Lennon Note to the Queen returning MBE Your Majesty, I am returning this in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts” It shows that Lowry turned down more honours than anybody else, with a total of five, including an OBE in 1955, a CBE in 1961 and a knighthood in 1968. Bacon turned down a CBE in 1960, while Freud refused the honour in the 1977 New Year's Honours list. 'Preposterous charade' Dahl, who rejected an OBE in 1986, was among a number of writers who snubbed the accolade including CS Lewis, who turned down a CBE in 1952. Film director Sir Alfred Hitchcock turned down a CBE in 1962, but went on to accept a knighthood from the Queen four months before his death in 1980. The Cabinet Office had been fighting the Freedom of Information request for more than a year but was ordered to release the information by the The Information Commissioner's Office. In the past a number of famous people have rejected or returned honours bestowed upon them by the monarch. Beatles legend John Lennon returned his MBE in 1969, with a note to the Queen saying: "Your Majesty, I am returning this in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts. "With Love, John Lennon of Bag." In 2007, co-founder of lingerie brand Agent Provocateur Joseph Corre also rejected the title, accusing Tony Blair of being "morally corrupt". Writer J G Ballard, who also rejected a CBE, is on record as saying he was opposed to the "preposterous charade" of the honours system. Honours have sometimes been forfeited if a recipient is convicted of a criminal offence. These include Roger Casement, a colonial officer in the Congo who was convicted of treason in the First World War, forfeited his knighthood and was executed. The publication of the list comes as senior civil servants are due to decide whether ex-Royal Bank of Scotland boss Sir Fred Goodwin should be stripped of his knighthood. The work of the Honours Forfeiture Committee is usually kept under wraps but David Cameron told MPs on Wednesday he expected it to sit in the coming days. Political pressure has been mounting for the title awarded to Sir Fred in 2004 for "services to banking" to be withdrawn over his role in the subsequent collapse of RBS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 Good Post Davie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox92 Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 Beatles legend John Lennon returned his MBE in 1969, with a note to the Queen saying: "Your Majesty, I am returning this in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts" lol That still gets me. Lennon was so outspoken, witty and quick. Legend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ousefox Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 lol That still gets me. Lennon was so outspoken, witty and quick. Legend. hero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1 Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 Old news redone / or poor journalism because FOI wasn't needed: http://icliverpool.i...-name_page.html [from 2003] Albert Finney has turned down a CBE and a Knighthood. He criticised the honours system for 'perpetuating snobbery.' "Rastafarian poet Benjamin Zephaniah was widely criticised after he revealed he rejected an OBE because the medals symbolised colonialism and Britain's association with slavery." Daily mail piece (same thing): A secret list of 300 top people who have snubbed the honours system by refusing knighthoods and other awards has been revealed. David Bowie, celebrity cook Nigella Lawson and comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders were among those who have refused honours, it was claimed. Bowie declined a CBE in the Queen's birthday honours of 2000 while Lawson, rejected an OBE offered in 2001 for her "services to journalism and to cookery". French and Saunders turned down OBEs "for services to comedy drama" in the same year. The information, covering more than 40 years, is in secret Whitehall files leaked to The Sunday Times. The reasons for refusing are not recorded. An inquiry to find the source of the leak was now under way. Novelist JG Ballard, James Bond leading lady Honor Blackman and jazz musician George Melly have all turned down honours under Blair, but the documents include the names of scores of famous people who have declined honours offered by prime ministers on behalf of the Queen since the Second World War. Compiled by the Cabinet Office's ceremonial branch, the list of almost 300 names includes author Graham Greene, artist David Hockney, writer John le Carré, poet Robert Graves, author Aldous Huxley and writer and journalist Evelyn Waugh. Other names on the list include writer J B Priestley, novellist Anthony Powell, children's author Roald Dahl, poet Philip Larkin, as well as actors Trevor Howard and Alastair Sim. LS Lowry, the painter, appears to have turned down more than anyone -- a total of five awards including a knighthood, CBE and OBE. Actor Albert Finney not only rejected a knighthood in 2000 but the documents show he also turned down a CBE in 1980. Even film director Alfred Hitchcock refused a CBE in 1962, although he accepted a knighthood shortly before he died according to the newspaper. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-204471/Top-people-refused-honours-named.html#ixzz1kZTKZB3h Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexikokopops Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 Old news redone / or poor journalism because FOI wasn't needed: http://icliverpool.i...-name_page.html [from 2003] Albert Finney has turned down a CBE and a Knighthood. He criticised the honours system for 'perpetuating snobbery.' "Rastafarian poet Benjamin Zephaniah was widely criticised after he revealed he rejected an OBE because the medals symbolised colonialism and Britain's association with slavery." Daily mail piece (same thing): [/left][/color] It does state in the BBC article that the information has only been available before if it's been leaked or the person has come out and said it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21st Century Fox Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 I've always liked to think if I was ever in that situation I'd refuse it but I do like shiny things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom17LCFC Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 lol That still gets me. Lennon was so outspoken, witty and quick. Legend. I was always under the impression that you didn't like Lennon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox92 Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 I was always under the impression that you didn't like Lennon? Don't care if you are trying to make a joke or something, but your impression is incorrect - he is my hero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rincewind Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 There are probably a lot of people who say they would refuse but would accept. Or a lot who disagreed with the honours and received them. I doubt I would ever be in the situation. Not many 'ordinary' people receive these honours but when they do they have genually done something worthwhile. Getting a knighthood for being a good actor or ex Mop does not really impress me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowwolf Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 hero. Lennon a Hero ? he was a snide self centered egotist, who shit on his first wife and kid and relied heavily on drugs for his musical inspiration. this so called socialist peoples hero led a debauched and wasted life and died a multi millionaire despite his much vaunted sympathy for the poor . Hero my arse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Doctor Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 oooh, I'm looking forward to Fox92's response to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corky Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 We could have THREAD MELTDOWN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MattP Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 I've always liked to think if I was ever in that situation I'd refuse it but I do like shiny things. Never understood anyone refusing, it's just being recognised for something you have done, achieved or given service to, it doesnt matter if its the Queen giving an MBE etc or a penniless person in the street shaking your hand and telling you how they appreciate you. I'd just say thank you, smile and greatly recieve it either way. I dread to think how egotistical and up your arse you would have to be to "refuse" such a thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ousefox Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 oooh, I'm looking forward to Fox92's response to that. i would reply but i think i'd rather wait for that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleronnie Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 Never understood anyone refusing, it's just being recognised for something you have done, achieved or given service to, it doesnt matter if its the Queen giving an MBE etc or a penniless person in the street shaking your hand and telling you how they appreciate you. I'd just say thank you, smile and greatly recieve it either way. I dread to think how egotistical and up your arse you would have to be to "refuse" such a thing. But surely if people are anti-monarchy they wouldn't want to accept the 'honour'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MattP Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 But surely if people are anti-monarchy they wouldn't want to accept the 'honour'. I don't really understand why though? I find Tony Blair and his politics as vile as anything in the world but if he wanted to thank me for something and give me an award in his name I'd say thank you and take it. Maybe I'm not taking life seriously enough anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleronnie Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 I don't really understand why though? I find Tony Blair and his politics as vile as anything in the world but if he wanted to thank me for something and give me an award in his name I'd say thank you and take it. Maybe I'm not taking life seriously enough anymore. Maybe they think it would be two faced in accepting awards from the same people they despise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I am Rod Hull Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 Maybe they think it would be two faced in accepting awards from the same people they despise. You`ve been in America too long, you dirty rebellious traitor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleronnie Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 You`ve been in America too long, you dirty rebellious traitor... Did I say I was anti monarchy? I'm merely giving a possible reason for why someone would turn down the 'honour'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I am Rod Hull Posted 26 January 2012 Share Posted 26 January 2012 Did I say I was anti monarchy? I'm merely giving a possible reason for why someone would turn down the 'honour'. I was merely on the wind up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zingari Posted 27 January 2012 Share Posted 27 January 2012 i tuned my knighthood down because my name is Lee Pratt and I and I didn't want to become Sir Lee Pratt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purpleronnie Posted 27 January 2012 Share Posted 27 January 2012 I was merely on the wind up... It worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davieG Posted 27 January 2012 Author Share Posted 27 January 2012 i tuned my knighthood down because my name is Lee Pratt and I and I didn't want to become Sir Lee Pratt My first chuckle of the day - thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozleicester Posted 28 January 2012 Share Posted 28 January 2012 *I turned down a best poster on FT award to protest that Kermo was decent, the sacking of Sven and Hammonds ankle. * this is of course a lie, coz none of you cvnts so much as even nominated me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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