Folkies with honours(OBE etc)

Subject: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: greg stephens
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 09:38 AM

There are various threads congratulating people on their awards(Shirley Collins and Archie Fisher this year), but I wonder if anyone can he4lp with compiling a list of all those who have got them? It would be interesting the geographical/cultural spread. I know Martin Carthy got something recently, but who else has ever made it to this position?

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 09:49 AM

Okay, I'll start you off .... off the top of my head ...

Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson, Bob Copper, Taffy Thomas, Maddy Prior, Nibs Matthews, Ally Bain, Sheila Stewart all received MBEs. And Jeannie Robertson?

Roy Bailey, but he's returned his.

Malcolm Taylor, Douglas Kennedy received OBEs.

Bob Cann got a BEM (now a discontinued honour). I think Belle Stewart got one as well.

some folkies got honours for non-folk activities: Roy Dommett got a CBE.

Derek Schofield

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: greg stephens
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 10:38 AM

Which are better, OBE or MBE?

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Noreen
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 11:06 AM

BBC guide to the honours

OBE (officer) is 'superior' to MBE (member)(of the order of the British Empire).

Lulu got an OBE too :0)

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 11:20 AM

Is it time we started to recommend alternative republican awards (ARA)?

Roy Bailey for being Roy Bailey?

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 11:48 AM

Mike sparks got an MBE last year or the year before

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 12:04 PM

Jeannie Robertson got one, but she still couldn't get served in a pub because she was a Traveller.
Doc Rowe got one, and he's never had a problem being served in a pub.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 12:41 PM

Sir jOhn? :)

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 03:26 PM

Well, that killed the discussion! :D

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Ron Davies
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 03:31 PM

As a Yank, I'm familiar with most of the list--but who are Taffy Thomas, Nibs Matthews, and Sheila Stewart? Sorry for the ignorance--but it may be shared by some other Yanks.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: SussexCarole
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 03:51 PM

People who have been awarded the MBE & OBE have the right to get married and have their children christened in a special chapel in St Paul's Cathedral. This privilege can be handed down for at least one generation.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Tom Hamilton frae Saltcoats Scotland
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:13 PM

the police medal is given to those who didn't get caught kicking in someone's head.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Polly Squeezebox
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:31 PM

Mike O'Connor got either an OBE or MBE about three years back - but non-folk related I think.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Noreen
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:41 PM

Chapel of The Order of the British Empire, St Paul's Cathedral

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:44 PM

Ron - in answer to your query a bit of VERY Basic !

Taffy Thomas - Folk Story teller and Magic Lantern man - Where writers like Bill caddick got started !

Sheila stewart - the Stewarts of Blairgowrie? Scottish Traveller and Source Singer !

Nibs Mathews - EFDSS man - Not too sure , but on the dance side I think

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: greg stephens
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 04:46 PM

Nibs Matthews was Director of the English Folk Dance and Song, sort of 60's-70's as far as I can remember.
Who was the Shetland fiddler that taught all the kids. Was it Tom Anderson? I think he got something a while ago.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: elfcape
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 05:17 PM

No Bert or John Kirkpatrick? What about Richard Thompson and Swarb?

I saw Archie's sis, Cilla, on the list on the Beeb, too.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST,Taffy
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 05:59 PM

Jimmie MacGregor, Billy Connolly .... now Archie Fisher! My God everyone of them has sold out, even those who had nothing to sell.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 06:28 PM

Karen Matheson of Capercaillie won last year for services to Scottish music.

From the Beeb article:

Singer Karen Matheson, from Taynuilt, Argyll, described by Sir Sean Connery as having "a throat surely touched by the hand of God", is appointed OBE for services to Scottish music.

Her singing career began when she performed as a child in local village hall ceilidhs on the west coast, and she recorded for Celtic group Capercaillie's first album in 1984 while still at school.

She was one of Capercaillie's founders in Oban, and released her debut solo album The Dreaming Sea in 1996 during a break from touring with the group.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 04:29 AM

The late Hamish Henderson refused an honour from the Thatcher government, saying he wouldn't accept an honour from a government who promoted nuclear arms. Brian McNeill wrote a tune in honour of this called ' Hamish Hendersons Refusal '

eric

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Dead Horse
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 04:33 AM

Dont want to be seen as being a bit of a big head and all that, but I have a MiD. (Mentioned in Despatches)















This particular despatch was actually asking if anybody had any news of me, as I had appeared to have gone AWOL in the middle of manouvres :-)
(true, I swears it!)

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Anne Lister
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 05:06 AM

Mike O'Connor's OBE was for work he did when he was in the RAF.

Anne

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Cats
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 07:30 AM

Mike always jokes that his was for 'not crashing with the Queen on board!'. He got it many years ago for services to RAF and Cornwall. When Taffy got his 3 years ago, we joked that he and Mike, when playing together, should be the The Gong Show!!! [I'll get my coat. Mike was also made a Bard of the Gorsedd 3 years ago for services to Cornish Music.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 09:44 AM

Doc Rowe has not got either an MBE or OBE (honorary doctorate yes ... that's another sub-thread ... other hon doctorates are Norma W and Martin C, and Ewan got an hon MA I think).

Yes, Cilla Fisher got MBE, and Artie Trezise and the other member of Singing kettle - Gary Coupland?

There are other Scottish recipients of honours - more of them than English I think! But can't remember all the names without looking them up.
Derek Schofield

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST,English republican
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 11:23 AM

Any person who accepts this royalist nonsense is a crawling bastard, the people who refuse this are to be admired and their names should be published at this time every year.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST,Ythanside
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 12:09 PM

Honours for folkies? Aren't the recipients lucky that Matt McGinn and Woody Guthrie are no longer around to rip the piss out of them in three verses?

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST, ...
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 12:14 PM

'royalist nonsense'? - I thought it was Blairist nonsense
(or whichever government happens to be in power when the list is compiled).

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST,Northerner
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 12:24 PM

There are several storytellers who have got an MBE. Senga Munro and Colin Mackay, both Scottish storytellers, have got an MBE, though I'm not sure what for. I believe that Colin does a lot of voluntary work. I've also heard that Stanley Robertson is in line for an honourary doctorate; the sooner the better I'd say, as he had a heart attack and stroke in the autumn, though he is recovering.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST,Northerner
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 12:44 PM

Senga's honour was for services to education.
"Mrs. Senga Munro. Senior teacher with responsibility for Traveller Education, Fife Council. For services to Education." (detail from a website. I am learning storytelling and find Senga a very helpful storyteller.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST,Northerner
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 02:06 PM

Colin's MBE is probably either for education or for scouting. He is very active in storytelling in Scotland, and, like Senga, very helpful.

Stanley's honorary doctorate is for his storytelling though, I am pretty sure. He is the nephew of the late Jeannie Robertson. He is both a fabulous ballad singer and storyteller. He has recently started to give me some of his stories. I live in the north of England but go up to Scotland occasionally for storytelling events and workshops.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 06 - 02:10 PM

I'm pretty sure Phil Cunningham got an MBE as well...

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 04:57 AM

Pistachio's mother and my brother both have MBE's well deserved both Ishould thn,. if you like that sought of thing.We on the other hand are scraping together an obscene amount of money to buy off our local MP-we have about twenty quid so far. Gongs are pretty much like the Church of England- if your a member and its important to you fine and dandy -if you aren't it shouldnt matter to you or anyone else- although I can get my head around many of those who give themselves selflessly for the service of their country -but Rod Stewart ? please! however if he's happy with it then great.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Ron Davies
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 05:43 AM

Leadfingers--

Thanks so much for the information. Now another ignorant query. (Sorry). What's the Magic Lantern. I seem to recall it may be a kids' television program--with a great sense of humor. How far off am I?

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST, ...
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 06:20 AM

Is a CBE above OBE and MBE?

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 06:22 AM

yes

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Cats
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 07:22 AM

Magic Lantern is a form of shadow puppet show. A back light is projected onto the screen and the puppets are worked behind the screen which give a silhouette or, very occasionally infron of the screen to give a coloured effect. The name of one of Taffy's company's was Magic Lantern

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Alan Day
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 08:55 AM

Taffy does a lot of work with children.He has a coat with patches on depicting a story and the children can point to one of the patches and he tells the story which relates to it.Taffy was one of the favourites of Sidmouth(still may be).He ran the story tellers competition every year.He was a street performer doing things like having concrete slabs broken across his chest,poking six inch nails up his nose.A real entertainer.He sadly suffered a stroke which limited his work to story telling.He travelled the country with his Magic Lantern show which was a mixture of little plays,story telling,Folk Music, his leading lady was the lovely Jeanie Harris.
Another story
I agree with the thoughts on John Kirkpatrick,if anyone deserves an honour for services to Folk Music it is him.
Al

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Compton
Date: 01 Jan 07 - 10:33 AM

Aly Bain has something!

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: growler
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 07:50 AM

Didn't Maddy Prior get Damed

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 06:57 PM

Time has moved on more swiftly than Guest of 11.48 am on 30 Dec realises - Mike Sparks was awarded the MBE in the Millennium New Year's Honours List 7 years ago (for services to youth, IIRC).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: GUEST,Sir jOhn (MBE,OBE etc)
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 08:36 AM

That Irish bloke, Bonio got a Sir recently.

he is now called Sir Bonio.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Scrump
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 12:11 PM

Those b*gg*rs missed me out yet again!

Just 'cos I didn't lend them any money - well, would you lend that lot any? I wouldn't.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Schantieman
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 02:19 PM

In order of seniority, the grades are...

KBE - Knight of the Order of the British Empire (Dame, DBE is the female equivalent)
CBE - Companion
OBE - Officer
MBE - Member

...and approximately the same is true of most the other orders of chivalry, such as the Order of St Michael and St George. This is the one awarded to members of the Civil Service for...well...basically for doing their job properly (which is why, I suppose, that most of them don't get it!). They are known as the Gods.....

GCMG - Knight Grand Cross of the order of St Michael and St George, aka God Calls Me God
KCMG - Knight of the order of St Michael and St George, aka Kindly Call Me God
CMG - Companion of the order of St Michael and St George, aka Call Me God

.... but I think that OMG and MMG might not exist.

Incidentally, I believe that most of the knighthoods awarded are 'Knights Bachelor' and do not admit the holder to an order of chivalry, merely to the courtesy title, "Sir".


Steve

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: The Sandman
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 04:40 PM

I consider it an honour not to have been offered it ,and if I was I would refuse it,Roy Bailey did the correct thing.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 04:52 PM

Are you expecting the tap then, Dick?

Roy Bailey accepted it. He had a change of heart later on.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 06:12 PM

I'd refuse it too, but I wish that they'd give me the chance to turn it down.

DC

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 05:56 AM

no Ruth im not,Im not part of the folk mafia,I plough my own furrow. and am generally too much of a grumpy old donkey ,to be part of the establishment.

Subject: RE: Folkies with honours(OBE etc)
From: Scrump
Date: 12 Jan 07 - 06:12 AM

I would think it more of an honour to be offered an OBE, and turn it down, than not to be offered it at all.

But since I haven't offered to "loan" either the Labour or Tory party money, there's no chance of me being offered one.