The Honours List this year threw up its usual quirky selection of names, celebrities and carers, charity workers and civil servants.
You can’t help thinking that for some people, a medal is part of the pay and rations, and sometimes I scratch my head at the illogicality of it all. Why has person A got a CBE and person B a MBE when it is difficult, if not impossible, to say one is more meritorious than another? But let’s not be churlish.
I noticed some interesting names with enterprise connotations. Janette Faherty of Avanta/TNG (and a Prowess director) was awarded an OBE, as was Prof David Storey, a leading small business researcher from Warwick Business School. And CBEs to Emma Harrison of A4E and John Wright, chairman of FSB. I’ve sat round the table with John on a number of occasions and he has certainly been a powerful advocate for his members.
All have made a distinctive contribution and all deserve our congratulations.