EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Why Paula Vennells returning her CBE is nugatory
Rishi Sunak must act to make sure Paula Vennells’ CBE is annulled. Simply returning the gong means nothing.
When Carla Lane, creator of The Liver Birds and Butterflies, died in 2016, many mourners at her funeral had been shocked to see her named ‘Carla Lane OBE’ on the order of service.
She had been appointed OBE in 1989 however returned it in 2002 as a part of her protests in opposition to animal cruelty.
Because the monarch was by no means requested to annul it, she remained OBE for all times.
Paula Vennells has stated she is going to return her CBE following the Post Office Scandal
Rishi Sunak must act to make sure Paula Vennells’ CBE is annulled. Simply returning the gong means nothing
Some who returned medals nonetheless have their honour as they’ve by no means been rescinded, together with Michael Sheen OBE, Alan Cumming OBE and John Lennon MBE.
When Lennon despatched his again in 1969, the gong and Lennon’s accompanying letter to the Queen had been stuffed behind a cabinet.
During a clear-out, they had been rediscovered in 2009 and supplied to Yoko Ono. She declined.
The letter, now a part of the Royal Archives, could possibly be price a small fortune.
When a draft of Lennon’s letter, signed ‘With Love’, was found at a car-boot sale in 2016, it was valued at £60,000.
Michael Sheen (pictured) returned his medal, however nonetheless has an OBE honour
Sandi Toksvig tells the Cambridge Union about her buy of a pink Mustang.
Parked close to Waterloo station with the roof down, she heard a lady strolling previous say: ‘Oh look. There is that lesbian.’
‘I used to be crushed,’ admits Sandi. ‘I put the roof again on and shortly afterwards I offered the automobile.’
But she has her makes use of, including: ‘I met a superb neuroscientist the opposite day at Cambridge and he or she couldn’t wire a plug. I had to assist her. I used to be like dial a dyke.’
Sandi Toksvig tells the Cambridge Union about her buy of a pink Mustang
Ubiqutous BBC presenter Amol Rajan, showing on the Dish podcast, asks hosts Angela Hartnett and Nick Grimshaw whether or not they hearken to Radio 4’s Today – earlier than cheekily confessing: ‘Because I do not.’
Announcing he is not eager on ‘grim stuff’ within the information, Today host Amol provides: ‘At the weekend I hearken to Radio 1 and Radio 6 Music. I’m simply happier.’ Nothing like loyalty to your individual present, Amol!
For movie aficionados, an beautiful in-joke in One Life about Nicholas Winton’s rescue of youngsters from the Nazis.
Winton, alias Anthony Hopkins, is reunited along with his Two Popes co-star Jonathan Pryce in a restaurant.
They quibble over the wine checklist. Hopkins asks for a bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape…
Anthony Hopkins (pictured) performs Nicholas Winton in One Life
Recalling the vicissitudes of taking part in a lifeless physique on stage, former Upstairs, Downstairs actor Simon Williams says many not too long ago slain thespians devise motion plans to go the time, reminiscent of an ardent Arsenal fan who had a protracted spell lifeless on stage.
‘He slipped an earphone below his wig so he might hearken to a vital sport,’ remembers Simon. ‘When his workforce scored in further time, the corpse punched the air, crying “yes!”‘
