richard winterbourn
Active Member
- Aug 19, 2015
- 423
- 93
I'm not well disposed to 'gongs' as all-too-often those who receive knighthoods and other awards are bankers, financiers, donors to major political parties or people who in general i and i am sure a lot of people feel do not approve of.
I am even less supportive of hereditary titles being awarded: What really has Mark Thatcher done to deserve to perpetuate an hereditary title? In my eyes, nothing.
But every so often there comes somebody who stands out,head and shoulders above those who receive titles. Somebody who embodies the thoughts and aspirations of millions of people throughout the world and who comes from a family of thinkers and achievers. And the sad fact is often these people when they pass on leave us only with memories of their achievements and greatness.
Thus it is that i really do think that Sir David Attenborough be ennobled with an hereditary title so that his his family can continue to play a prominent part in world affairs in the generations to come. David, who is now 90, and his brother, Sir Richard Attemborough, were not new to being people who served this country well; their parents fostered jewish refugee children during the Second World War. And now David's son is a senior lecturer in bioanthropology. This family commands world respect and i think it is only fitting that it should be honoured.
Before long we will have the New Year's Honours and the usual stream of awards for time served and dubious 'good deeds' and, of course, honours for those who rightly deserve them. But i hope that we can use the hereditary system, while it survives, to pay ample recognition to a family whose reputation transcends the world.
I am even less supportive of hereditary titles being awarded: What really has Mark Thatcher done to deserve to perpetuate an hereditary title? In my eyes, nothing.
But every so often there comes somebody who stands out,head and shoulders above those who receive titles. Somebody who embodies the thoughts and aspirations of millions of people throughout the world and who comes from a family of thinkers and achievers. And the sad fact is often these people when they pass on leave us only with memories of their achievements and greatness.
Thus it is that i really do think that Sir David Attenborough be ennobled with an hereditary title so that his his family can continue to play a prominent part in world affairs in the generations to come. David, who is now 90, and his brother, Sir Richard Attemborough, were not new to being people who served this country well; their parents fostered jewish refugee children during the Second World War. And now David's son is a senior lecturer in bioanthropology. This family commands world respect and i think it is only fitting that it should be honoured.
Before long we will have the New Year's Honours and the usual stream of awards for time served and dubious 'good deeds' and, of course, honours for those who rightly deserve them. But i hope that we can use the hereditary system, while it survives, to pay ample recognition to a family whose reputation transcends the world.
