Nuffield College
I have just been reading the New Year’s honours list – well part of it, so far – and was very pleased to see some of those who have received knighthoods (or damehoods). The media have covered the knighthood awarded to long-serving Conservative MP, Peter Bottomley (husband of our University Chancellor, Baroness Bottomley) and the damehood conferred on Labour MP Anne Begg for her work in the field of disability. Less commented on has been the knighthood awarded to the political scientist Dr David Butler, who for more than fifty years was a Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford, and who authored and co-authored the Nuffield General Election studies. The 2010 edition was the first since 1951 that did not have his name on the cover. The only surprise is that the honour did not come sooner.
For those who did not notice, two peers have also been honoured (with GBEs), the Earl of Selborne for his contribution to science and Lord Weidenfeld for his contribution to publishing. Or perhaps I should say at least two peers – I haven’t got through the whole list yet…
Congratulations to all those who have been honoured.
If you include former members then Lord Shuttleworth. I can see a fair few sons/brothers/daughters/wives of peers past or present.
Croft: I think it fair to say that peers are well connected! I am always amazed by the sheer range of charitable and other public activities pursued by peers and their relatives.
Once again I didn’t get a gong. Not that I expected to…
Dave H: The process is now much transparent than before and it is possible to nominate people for honours. So, if you feel you have achievements or qualities that qualify….
I’m still working on the qualification bit. That’s why I didn’t expect anything.
“The process is now much transparent than before and it is possible to nominate people for honours.”
Well you can nominate more easily but the smoky arts of civil service committee still seems to rule
Croft: That’s true. It may have been more appropriate to say that the system is now more open, in terms of nominating people, than it is transparent.