POP icon Cliff Richard today becomes Britain's first knight of
rock'n'roll, heading a list of 1054 other men and women in the Queen's
Birthday Honours.
Sir Cliff, who has been producing hit records since the 1950s, is
among a stream of show business and sporting names who receive awards.
However, around one-third of the names on the ''classless'' list were
nominated by members of the public for more practical contributions to
the nation.
In Scotland, the best-known recipient is Bill McLaren, the doyen of TV
rugby commentary and a long-standing Herald columnist, who is awarded an
OBE. Other sporting successes include Olympic medal-winning rower Peter
Haining and the former secretary of the Scottish Football Association,
Mr Ernie Walker.
The veteran comedy trio, Scotland the What?, are all made MBEs while
the tally of honours for public service includes long-serving Kintyre
lighthouse keeper Mr Hector Lamont and Bosnian aid worker Mr Denis
Rutovitz, of Edinburgh.
Scotland can also boast two new knights, Sir John Drummond, former
director of the Edinburgh Festival and controller of Radio 3, and Sir
John Shaw, chairman of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
English rugby star Rob Andrew, regarded as a key element in his side's
achievements to date in the World Cup, is made an MBE on the eve of the
semi-final against New Zealand in South Africa.
Sporting honours also go to yachting's Robin Knox-Johnston, who is
knighted, show jumper David Broome (CBE), who is retiring after 35 years
at the top, and football's Peter Beardsley (MBE) of Newcastle United.
OBEs are awarded to octogenarian comedian Norman Wisdom, actress and
dyslexia campaigner Susan Hampshire, actor Saeed Jaffrey, and musical
star Elaine Page.
Recipients of CBEs include actor Alan Bates and film director Alan
Parker. Mr John Bird, editor of the magazine for the homeless, The Big
Issue, is made an MBE, and rogue Tory MP Julian Critchley is finally
knighted after 36 years at Westminster.
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