Liz - Seems I’m not on the list – again

Well its always going to be a long shot but it seems that once again I’m not on the queens Birthday Honours list (yes I know its a day or to late, maybe that’s the reason, the card I sent was late again).

Still I suppose it will be a year or two before the queen starts dishing out gongs for services to er blogging, never mind its good to see that a true account of this country demographics has been taken and not just the public sector workers been represented by a good sprinkling of us ordinary folk like plumbers, call centre workers, taxi drivers, salesmen, corner shop owners, gardeners,electricians, bricklayers, printers, bank managers, agency workers, bar staff

I’ve no doubt that those awarded honours have earned them and well done but it seems to me that the Honours system does not reward the larger community outside the public sector. Of the twenty gongs dished out here in Kent it appears that 12 are to those who have been employed in the public sector.

I’m not trying to knock those who’ve been awarded merely pointing out that in many respects this country still relies on its feudal past and patronage which doesn’t, like the monarchy, fit comfortably with a modern democratic equal society.

Anyhow I stumbled on this list while visiting KCC website, in Kent the winners are:

Order of the British Empire

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Dr Stephen DEUCHAR (Westwell) Lately Director Tate Britain For Services to Art

Dr Marshall ELLIOTT (Broadstairs) For Public Service

Mrs Helen TAIT (Hythe)Headteacher, Sandgate Primary School For Services to Education in Kent

Order of the British Empire

Officers of the Order of the British Empire

Mr Colin DAWSON (Canterbury) Chief Executive, British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions LtdFor Services to the Tourist Industry

Mr Michael FARRELL (Hempstead) For Services to the Church of England

Dr Robin HILEY (Sevenoaks)For Services to the Ministry of Defence

Mr Jonathan JEFFERIS (Sevenoaks)For Services to the Ministry of Defence

Mr George JENKINS (Canterbury)Vice Chairman, NHS Blood and Transplant and Chairman, South London Healthcare NHS Trust For Services to Healthcare

Order of the British Empire

Members of the Order of the British Empire

Mr Alan BERNSTEIN (Tunbridge Wells) For Services to Young People in Kent

Mrs Margaret GREENWAY (Canterbury) Lately Commission Services Resource Manager for Kent Probation For Services to Offenders

Mrs Jane HIGGS (Edenbridge) For Services to the Heritage of Eden Valley

Councillor Palma LAUGHTON (Ashford) Chairman, Stanhope Parish Council For Services to the Community in Stanhope, Ashford

Mr Paul MARSH (Canterbury) Lately Principal Officer, HM Prison Canterbury For Services to HM Prison Service

Mrs Catherine MARSHALL (Ashford) Assistant Headteacher, Wyvern School, Ashford For Services to Special Needs Education

Mrs Jacqueline McKENNA (Aylesford) Director of Nursing and Strategic Planning, Medway NHS Foundation TrustFor Services to Healthcare

Miss Pamela MORRIS (Chatham) Secretary, Minerva Sports and Social Association Department for Business Innovation and Skills

Mrs Marjorie SEAL (Dartford) For Voluntary Services to Girlguiding in Kent

Mrs Maureen SMITH (Whitstable) For Services to the Community in Whitstable

Mr Michael STEVENS (Maidstone) Chairman of Governors, Oakwood Park Grammar School For Voluntary Service to Education

Mrs Hazel WATERS (Rainham) Workforce Information Assistant, Medway NHS Foundation Trust For Services to the NHS