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Post by Arlon10 on Dec 31, 2017 14:12:30 GMT
I recently saw on television that Ringo Starr, born Richard Starkey, was knighted by Queen Elizabeth.
I was reminded that at about the time the Sgt. Pepper's album was released, maybe a bit before, maybe a bit after, all four Beatles received some sort of honor from the Queen. I remembered a picture of the four standing together and each holding up his certificate and medallion signifying his honor by the Queen. That's four Beatles, four certificates and four medallions.
I immediately wondered what was happening. I searched for the documentation I might have in my books and records. I did not find it on a quick and cursory search. I then decided I should try the internet. It was silent on the point of all four Beatles being "knighted."
The internet did mention that Paul McCartney was knighted in 1997. I did have a computer in 1997, but not true "internet" access. I only had bulletin board service and upgraded to the actual "internet" quite late in 1997. I realize that is behind the regular schedule. I missed that news about Paul. Remember too that I had thought he was already "Sir" Paul McCartney from my apparent misreading of the events of the late 60s.
Eventually I did find the picture on the internet just as I remembered it all those years ago. Yes there was some sort of honor near the time of Sgt. Pepper's. It was made clear though that the honor was not a "knighthood" as many of my friends and associates had believed. Perhaps some citizens of the UK here can explain the difference. What for example is an "MBE" as compared to an "OBE"?
Then I remembered the "Abbey Road" album and how I considered it unnecessarily disrespectful of the Queen. I wonder whether that has anything to do with anything else.
The internet, being it's way, is replete with stories about the "knighthood" of various rock stars and of Mick Jagger and how other holders of the honor resented him getting the same thing. There were also complaints about the Beatles getting whatever it is they got. The only person I remember making use of his title is "Sir" Elton John. There has to be a story there I haven't heard.
So, anyone able to correct the mistakes I have in all this, many as they might be, please do.
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Post by tickingmask on Dec 31, 2017 15:05:45 GMT
It wasn't knighthoods in the late 60s, it was MBEs, altogether a much more lowly award. In pecking order: MBE < OBE < CBE < Knighthood. Hardly anybody gets knighted, but MBEs can get awarded to just about anybody.
John Lennon later returned his MBE citing some spurious reason, but most probably because he thought he should have been awarded something more important.
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Post by theoncomingstorm on Dec 31, 2017 15:43:17 GMT
It wasn't knighthoods in the late 60s, it was MBEs, altogether a much more lowly award. In pecking order: MBE < OBE < CBE < Knighthood. Hardly anybody gets knighted, but MBEs can get awarded to just about anybody. John Lennon later returned his MBE citing some spurious reason, but most probably because he thought he should have been awarded something more important. There was a time when the Monarch could order such ungrateful miscreants be imprisoned at Tyburn and tortured with thumbscrews. |
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Post by Arlon10 on Dec 31, 2017 17:18:27 GMT
It wasn't knighthoods in the late 60s, it was MBEs, altogether a much more lowly award. In pecking order: MBE < OBE < CBE < Knighthood. Hardly anybody gets knighted, but MBEs can get awarded to just about anybody. John Lennon later returned his MBE citing some spurious reason, but most probably because he thought he should have been awarded something more important. Thanks very much. I searched the internet as far as I could in the brief time I had and it appears Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are still just MBEs, but Elton John is a CBE. There was much mention of a "Knights Bachelor" honor that grants a person the the title "Sir," but I was not able to figure out when or exactly how that went to anyone. |
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Post by Arlon10 on Dec 31, 2017 17:20:40 GMT
It wasn't knighthoods in the late 60s, it was MBEs, altogether a much more lowly award. In pecking order: MBE < OBE < CBE < Knighthood. Hardly anybody gets knighted, but MBEs can get awarded to just about anybody. John Lennon later returned his MBE citing some spurious reason, but most probably because he thought he should have been awarded something more important. There was a time when the Monarch could order such ungrateful miscreants be imprisoned at Tyburn and tortured with thumbscrews. Your comment matches the expression on your avatar's face.  |
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