At last....Doddy gets his knighthood ! Together with Andy Murray, Bryn Terfyl ( gentleman warbler ) and Mark Rylance ( gentleman actor ).
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Well Ken Dodd deserves the honour far far, more than George Michael, whose been suggested for such an award after a comparatively short period in the entertainment industry following his death.
Nothing against the singer, but people's imagination tends to run riot after unexpected deaths......
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George Michael was well known in the entertainment industry (and outside it) before his death too ya know :-)
But I also don't "get" the many gongs given out to individuals for a successful Olympics or two, staggering though their achievement may be, or for just doing their job. I'm not sure what one should do to qualify and I'm coming round to the same conclusion that I've seen somewhere recently - the number of gongs need to be rationalised and the criteria should be better established,
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Ken Dodd's career hasn't been long...it's just felt like it ;)
I'm not sure he's actually even been a performer during George's career has he? Didn't he give up in the 70s? Though overall, I think quality of output is a far better metric for any honour, if they are to be given. Getting one for just keeping going doesn't really seem to be in the spirit of them?
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>> I'm not sure he's actually even been a performer during George's career has he? Didn't
>> he give up in the 70s? T
He still tours as live show at 92. Often carries on way after his booked finish time.
Don't know if he still sings.
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I saw him in 2010 - very long show. Been on shorter flights since..
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>> I saw him in 2010 - very long show. Been on shorter flights since..
>>
>>
Likewise; yes it did go on a bit, but on the other hand he can still hold an audience from start to finish, not one swear word all night, many lesser "comedians" could learn a lot from him.
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The civil servant who oversaw the withdrawal of the Road Tax Disc got some gong or other.
No printing of RFL saved £17m
Road tax receipts fell by £30m+
More motorists fined for having NO Road Tax - no reminder on the windscreen in many cases
Less Money for Government & more aggravation for the man in the street! & they paid him around £200K per year (inc Pension) & gave him a gong for failure!
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Does anyone really give a toss who gets a gong these days?
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>> Does anyone really give a toss who gets a gong these days?
>>
Well, the recipient does.
Also, for many companies, having a 'Sir' in the boardroom helps impress Johnny Foreigner no end.
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>> Less Money for Government & more aggravation for the man in the street! & they
>> paid him around £200K per year (inc Pension) & gave him a gong for failure!
>>
>>
Funny you should mention that; just decided to take the BMW out tomorrow, on a whim wondered if I'd taxed it; turned out I hadn't and should have on 1st December. Thankfully you seem to get the month's grace.
Had I not noticed, would possibly have cost me a lot more. I like a lot of the on-line stuff that DVLA does but phasing out tax discs wasn't the brightest idea in retrospect.
Last edited by: Harleyman on Sat 31 Dec 16 at 12:19
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The Govt. should just abolish the irksome tax and put it on road fuel, just as the french do. Hugely fairer and no avoidance either.
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I think at the time getting rid of the tax disc was popular amongst the population by and large .
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Have you got a link for that story FB?
Not having a nobble at you but I suspect it's at best poor reporting and at worst malign fibbing.
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DT
Oliver Morley, the chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, receives a CBE for “services to Public Sector Digital Services†despite the axing of paper tax discs which resulted in motorists inadvertently failing to keep their car tax up to date.
Cannot remember where I saw his salary/pension mentioned.
I read probably 5/6 papers per day & saw it in on-line B&W.
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>> DT
>>
>> Oliver Morley, the chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency,
An alternative perspective:
Oliver Morley took over as C/Ex of the DVLA in November 2013. The intention to abolish the paper disc was announced by government at more or less exactly same time. Doing so was, like withdrawal of the Counterpart Driving License, a political decision based on reducing 'red tape'. Tax discs did at least have some provable savings unlike the counterpart licence where the costs were simply transferred to the user.
Morley oversaw implementation of a Minister's decision. He did so successfully and, at least for this motorist, the system works well. Even though mine is paid by direct debit I got a reminder in the post triggered by my MoT being due shortly before tax due date.
VED take has been falling for some years driven by newer vehicles having lower emissions. The shift to monthly payments also meant previous lump sum receipts were spread over a year making comparisons a bananas/elephants exercise.
His previous gig was in National Archives and I suspect his "services to Public Sector Digital Services" include work done there.
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despite the axing of paper tax discs which
>> resulted in motorists inadvertently failing to keep their car tax up to date.
I don't see how it's his fault, if people can't sort out car tax then it's their fault. Its not like it's hard to do.
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>>I don't see how it's his fault,
Saved £17m in printing/admin costs
DVLA took in £30m less money & caused grief for motorists.
£13m is not to be scoffed at & presumably many printers lost their jobs!
Lose Lose scenario!!
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Well it wasn't his choice was it? And you've missed the point about people being responsible for their own affairs.
Last edited by: sooty123 on Sat 31 Dec 16 at 17:56
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>> Saved £17m in printing/admin costs
>>
>> DVLA took in £30m less money & caused grief for motorists.
Apparent correlation does not prove causation. There are at least two reasons (drift to low emission cars and effect in yr1 of previous lump sums being spread over instalments) that might account for less money.
More motorists being caught for evasion is a plus in my book.
>> £13m is not to be scoffed at & presumably many printers lost their jobs!
>> Lose Lose scenario!!
Firm or firms contracted to produce the discs will have to find other work. But not having to securely distribute discs and account for them as 'financial stationery' will be a massive saving.
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>> Firm or firms contracted to produce the discs will have to find other work.
They used to do all the printing in the basement of the DVLA building in Swansea. At least they used to because I had a tour once.
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>>He still tours as live show at 92.>>
Doddy is 89...:-)
He's always given his audiences tremendous value for money, never tells offensive jokes (innuendo yes, but subtle), rarely tells the same joke twice and does, indeed, "overrun" his normal performance time.
His audiences would be massively disappointed if he didn't carry on wisecracking, whilst he usually lets the band go home long before he finishes a show...:-)
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>> Doddy is 89...:-)
You're quite correct. Definitely heard him described as 91+ on radio this morning as I thought B.. H... he's older than my Mother (90)
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>> >> Doddy is 89...:-)
>>
>> You're quite correct. Definitely heard him described as 91+ on radio this morning as I
>> thought B.. H... he's older than my Mother (90)
the usual source says - DoB 8 November 1927 (age 89)
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>> Ken Dodd's career hasn't been long...it's just felt like it ;)
Saw him once.
Thought he was never going to stop!
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"Does anyone really give a toss who gets a gong these days?"
I don't but couldn't help chortling because Farage didn't get anything. Well deserved. Back in 2007 my old Business Manager offered to nominate me for something. I think the two fingered salute said more than words ever could.
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Our Chief Exec has just tweeted this one:
tinyurl.com/z7o8o9d (MBE for somebody associated with Northants CA)
I don't know her (well before my time) but her career seems to be an exemplar of a deserved award. Surprised it's 'only' the MBE.
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Still no knighthood for John Surtees.
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I am totally against giving gongs to people from any section of society, whether it is government, sports or entertainment, simply for doing their job and often earning shedloads of money for so doing.
Recognition if it is necessary at all, should go to worthy folk who actually do things for others, with no thought of financial benefits, or honours, as a reward.
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>>... should go to worthy folk who actually do things for others, with no thought of financial benefits, or honours, as a reward.>>
But they do. It's the nationally known individuals who are prominently featured, but worthy folk from around the country are generally only highlighted on their local TV, radio or other media.
tinyurl.com/j6lbuuz
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>> But they do. It's the nationally known individuals who are prominently featured, but worthy folk from around the country are generally only highlighted on their local TV, radio or other media.
And some under sad circumstances:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Bone
Last edited by: VxFan on Sat 31 Dec 16 at 17:49
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>> And some under sad circumstances:
>>
>> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Bone
Yes, here's the song Jarvis Cocker wrote about her. It must be one of his most popular ones, because there are lots of versions on YouTube. Some are more exciting to watch, but you can distinguish all the lyrics on this one:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_YXxjKIuM8
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>> But they do. It's the nationally known individuals who are prominently featured, but worthy folk from around the country are generally only highlighted on their local TV, radio or other media.
I know that, of course and have no problem with that type of award,
Last edited by: VxFan on Sat 31 Dec 16 at 17:49
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>> I am totally against giving gongs to people from any section of society, whether it
>> is government, sports or entertainment, simply for doing their job and often earning shedloads of
>> money for so doing.
I always think that they add on the 1 in 5 celebs/well known that get an award to keep the whole process in the news. For better or worse, if they weren't there it'd all be on the bottom of page 43.
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Didn't Doddy get done once for Tax evasion? I would have thought someone being in trouble with the law would stop them getting a tap on the shoulder from the Queen?
And as for Victoria Beckham getting an OBE for establishing herself as a powerful force in the fashion industry. Whatever next.
I tell you what she wants, what she really really wants, and it isn't an OBE ;)
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He was charged with tax evasion and was found not guilty in Court (or got off depending on your point of view.)
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I'm surprised Mr. Corbyn hasn't received recognition for his sterling services to the Tory party.
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>> He was charged with tax evasion and was found not guilty in Court (or got
>> off depending on your point of view.)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Dodd#Tax_evasion_court_case
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Did you hear Ken Dodd died?
Did he?
No, Doddy.
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Honours list - Stuartli
