Gongs for the boys

A New Year’s look at Formula 1 in 2010 »

Gongs for the boys

December 31, 2009 by Joe Saward

The British New Year’s Honours List has been published with the news that motorsport has claimed three honours (slightly fewer than the fashion industry, and on a par with dinner ladies). Among the 1000-odd people named was Ross Brawn, who has been appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), “for services to motorsport” and Jenson Button, who has been named as a Member of the same order (MBE) for the same reason. This conitnues to modern trend of naming World Champions as MBEs rather than in previous years when they traditionally became OBEs.

The only other motorsport involvement in the Honours List was an MBE for David Butler, the head of the British Motorsport Association for the Disabled, for services to “disability sport”. Butler lost both legs and his left hand in a bomb accident at the age of 11. He has nonetheless competed in over 600 events, racing and rallying.

Posted in Action at Grands Prix, F1 people, F1 Teams | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on December 31, 2009 at 10:27 Tony Martin

Craig Baird recieved an order of Merit in the New Zealand honors list for service to Motorsport.
- on January 1, 2010 at 20:41 joesaward
  
  Tony Martin,
  
  Good for him. He was a nice guy when I knew him back in the 1980s…
on December 31, 2009 at 15:38 Mouse_Nightshirt

Sorry, but I have to ask.

“bomb accident”?

Since when is a bomb an accident?
- on January 1, 2010 at 20:39 joesaward
  
  Mouse Nightshirt (Bizarre name),
  
  I have no idea. If a kid picks up a bomb in a field in northern France and it goes off, surely that is a bomb accident?
on December 31, 2009 at 19:34 Alianora La Canta

Congratulations to Jenson, Ross and David!
on January 1, 2010 at 02:09 underbean2

Joe,

It’s just occurred to me that the trend might be due to the fact that the last two British world champions do not reside in this country and therefore do not pay tax to the British Government, who dish out said honours.

Excellent blog, by the way!

- Jake
on January 1, 2010 at 21:27 Steven Roy

underbean2,

Name me the last British champion who paid tax in Britain.

Damon Hill lived in Ireland. Mansell lived in the Isle of Man. James Hunt? Jackie Stewart lived in Switzerland etc
on January 2, 2010 at 13:44 Ambient Sheep

re. MBE v. OBE, I’m wondering if it’s because last year they expected (and probably still do expect) Lewis to be a multiple world champion, thus they’re saving the OBE in reserve as an upgrade for when/if he wins his second world championship.

Obviously they then have to extend that to everybody else in future otherwise it’ll look very unpleasant.
on January 2, 2010 at 19:50 bootneck

Graham Hill, he lived in Hendon or somewhere like that

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