Page 20 - Demo

NEWS
National honours – recognising the extraordinary
Dominic Hopkins, DL, Under Sheriff of Northamptonshire, is also a Deputy Lieutenant for the County and assists Her Majesty’s Lord- Lieutenant, Mr James Saunders Watson, as a member of the County’s Honours Committee.
While for many, modesty and shyness can make gratitude and recognition uncomfortable, it is centrally human to find pleasure in thanking and being thanked for something done that is worthy of appreciation. Whether it is a friend, family or a stranger who helped us along the way and whether small or life-changing, a response is as important and affirming to the helped as it is to the helper.
We all know what it feels like when something positive we do is ignored. The motivation to help in future can be dimmed. A ‘thank you’ though, builds us up, whether giver or receiver. It doesn’t cost us either. In that sense, it is priceless.
What is true at a personal level, is just as true at a societal level. If a society fails to mark and express its gratitude for individual or collective contributions to the life of its communities, then it is diminished. This is why, at a national level, the UK’s system for awarding honours has a key role to play in ensuring that people who make our lives better are suitably thanked.
The National Honours System is your honours system. The vast majority of honours are based on nominations by members of the public. Yes, nominations go through a careful process of
scrutiny by specialist non-political committees and a validation process, and not all nominations are accepted. A national honour should have
a rarity value and not be handed out on just a ‘say so’. The process can also take a considerable while, but when an honour is awarded, it makes a difference; a difference not just to the individual, but to the community that has benefited.
There is thus great worth in receiving an honour, in one of the following four categories: BEM British Empire Medal: for sustained and creditable charitable or voluntary activity in a locality.
MBE Member of the Order of the British Empire: for outstanding achievement or service by a local role model.
OBE Officer of the Order of the British Empire: for a contribution felt by a significant body of people across a county or region.
CBE Commander of the Order of the British Empire: for achievement or service in a leading role regionally or nationally.
It is wonderful to see creditable service
to the community recognised and when it happens, it is worth remembering that it began with a nomination. The starting point for any nomination is the form and guidance to be found at the following link to the Cabinet Office webpage for UK National Honours. www.gov.uk/government/publications/ nominate-someone-for-a-uk-national-honour
TELESALES
Two positions available at Crest Publications, Kettering
Proud publishers of Jigsaw and Oundle Life magazines.
Would you like an opportunity to join our small, friendly team selling advertising space into our local and national publications?
Sales experience is not necessarily required as training will be given. Apprenticeship/ Trainee position available.
For a full detailed job description please visit www.crestpublications.com or call Jayne on 01536 317000 for more information.
JIGSAW
THRAPSTON • DENFORD • ISLIP
OUNDLE
The magazine for Oundle and its villages
LIFE
Including Thrapston Town Council’s Newsletter
D E S I G N
& P U B L I S H
20