New years honours list

[Zacs-Master]

An OBE for Clive Christian (no, I've never heard of him before either) for services to the luxury goods industry. His website boasts that they supply
'the worlds most expensive perfume'.
In these times of austerity, is this a little insensitive?

[factor-fiction]

Was it because of the income/jobs created in this country?

[Zacs-Master]

I can find no reference to his company having created any significant number of jobs recently. An average price for one of his kitchens is £100,000 apparently.

[237SJ]

Personally, I think they should only give out honours when they see fit rather than having a set number that they have to give. That way, they wouldn`t be scratching around looking for worthy people. Clive Christian is (if I remember rightly) a furniture or kitchen shop but for some strange reason does perfume as well. Some bottles are thousands of pounds. I managed to blagg my way past their very posh assistant in their Nantwich shop to sample the perfume. It was OK (ish)

[Zacs-Master]

Debretts lists his achievements as (the last one probably being the most revealing:
fndr and chm Clive Christian plc 1978-; Outstanding Perfume Presentation Fifi Award Fragrance Fndn 2006, House and Garden Designers' Best Award 2007, Guinness world record for world's most expensive perfume 2008, Outstanding Contribution to Educn and Innovation of the Perfume Industry Fifi Award Fragrance Fndn 2009; memb: Rotary Int (Hon Lifetime Rotarian, Hon Paul Harris Fell), Walpole

[DTCwordfan]

Try the export markets he has entered and hence foreign income into the UK....big player in the States luxury perfume market, Far East markets etc,.....same for his kitchens in the States.

[DTCwordfan]

so why do you wish to deride someone who is actually making something and developing export markets? Illogical.

[Zacs-Master]

Many thanks for your input but Where exactly have I derided him DT? I simply think that in these tough times, there are far more deserving causes.

[anotheoldgit]

/// there are far more deserving causes. ///

Such as Ex-Gangsters maybe?

[DTCwordfan]

You positioned it as "a little insensitive"

I would argue not aa here is someone earning money for the UK and in doing so providing jobs. If you wanted a "cull" start with the overpaid sportsmen and entertainers.

As to AOGs gangster comments, well plai disgraceful but I am not surprised - here are two folk who have done their time and then gone back to charity work and more in repaying their debt to society. They are an example to current prisoners that turn-around of their lives is possible.

[Zacs-Master]

If I went through the whole list, then I'm sure I could come up with a few more dubious recipients AOG. This just seemed to be rather elitist. Which ex gangster has been a recipient?

[Zacs-Master]

I was criticising 'the establishment' for GIVING the award, not the work done by the recipient.

[THECORBYLOON]

anotheoldgit, do you agree that someone sentenced to twelve months in gaol and fined five million pounds for fraud should be honoured?

[DTCwordfan]

Gerard Ronson (ofGuinness fraud fame) is in as well as some ex drug dealer......

[anotheoldgit]

Zacs-Master

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...gland-london-16364580

THECORBYLOON

/// anotheoldgit, do you agree that someone sentenced to twelve months in gaol and fined five million pounds for fraud should be honoured? ///

Certainly not, this honours list has gone completely out of control the wrong people are getting these awards.

The Ex-Gangster has been defended by some, for trning his life around and finally doing some good, 'big deal'.

There are many out there that have toed the line all their lives and still continue to do much for charity, but are these recognised?

It seems that one has first to lead a criminal life, and then later decide to act like the rest of law-abiding citizens, before one is applauded and maybe later honoured.

[Zacs-Master]

I find myself agreeing with you on this one AOG. I'd like to be party to the flawed decision process that those in their ivory towers go through in making these ridiculous awards.

[THECORBYLOON]

"There are many out there that have toed the line all their lives and still continue to do much for charity, but are these recognised?"

Have you nominated them anotheoldgit?

[anotheoldgit]

To all those 'Daily Mail Bashers' who regularly accuse the Mail of being Tory bias, and only reporting on pro right wing issues, read this, it could almost be a Guardian report.

http://www.dailymail....BE-jailed-tycoon.html

And as far as I can see not one criticism of an Ex-gangster getting a gong.

[jno]

get yourself a nomination form here, aog

http://www.direct.gov...dsandmedals/DG_067917

Feel free to nominate the entire Daily Mail staff if you so wish

[THECORBYLOON]

http://www.dailymail....tml?ito=feeds-newsxml