Sue Barker

[mightymouse]

WHY is she not a dame???

[Cloverjo]

Why should she be?

[JimF]

Probably has more self-respect.

[237SJ]

She is a stalwart of sports commentating so I agree, maybe she should be rewarded

[EDDIE51]

She may have been offered the chance but turned it down ! They always ask people privately first to avoid embarrasing refusals ! Not every woman wants to be a 'Dame' ! many refuse the offer !!!

[New Judge]

She's not a Dame because the honours system is already disreputable ana to bestow a senior award on Ms Barker would heighten that disrepute.

Sue Barker was a decent tennis player, winning the French Open in 1976 and beat at one time or another most of the top players of her era, including Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, Tracy Austin, Virginia Wade, Maria Bueno, Rosemary Casals, Andrea Jaeger and Pam Shriver. She would have made an all England final in the 1977 Wimbledon tournament but unexpectedly lost to Betty Stove in the semi-finals and so lost the chance to meet Virginia Wade in the final.

Since then she has forged a career in broadcasting and good for her. But she has already been awarded an MBE (for services to sport and broadcasting) and an OBE for services to broadcasting and charity). That should be more than enough because to make her a Dame would be rather like making Gary Lineker a Knight.


Barker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours[24] for services to sport and to broadcasting and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and charity

[naomi24]

Eddie, //They always ask people privately first to avoid embarrasing refusals ! //

I don't think that's true. Several people have rejected honours.

[JimF]

More like hundreds, possibly thousands:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_declined_a_British_honour

[BAKERS DOZEN]

Think I read somewhere that there has to be at least six years in between honours so that would be 2022 before she could be considered again. Anything is possible I suppose.

[Old_Geezer]

Honours pfft.

[Mamyalynne]

Sir Pfft it is then.

[david small]

She is nothing like a dame.

[Peter Pedant]

Eddie, //They always ask people privately first to avoid embarrasing refusals ! //

yeah they do .... evelyn waugh declined a CBE 1959 because he thought he was worth a knighthood
it sort of comes out later

clearly the refusals are unattested ....

[Old_Geezer]

Well in fairness
There is nothin' you can name that is anythin' like a dame