Military Wives Choir

[victor tango]

If Gareth Malone doesnt get an award in the New Years Honours List I will be very :mad::mad:

[Melchett01]

He already received an OBE about 2 years ago in the 2012 QBH list.

[victor tango]

Good. Then the ways clear for the Knighthood!

[Melchett01]

Probably too soon, the honours committee usually like to see a respectable period of time between awards to demonstrate that you have earned your promotion within the system.

Which leads on to the next question - knighthood .... Why? He doesn't do all this out of the goodness of his heart, he's a commercial act, one look on his website at all the books, CDs and concert tickets he's trying to sell shows you that.

[ImageGear]

Yup...just like...

"Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, 25 March 1947"

and...

"Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942)"

Precedent set I believe, :rolleyes:

Imagegear

[tmmorris]

Aren't you supposed to demonstrate either a significant contribution in your area of expertise, or to charity or the community?

In which case... speaking as a professional musician/teacher, he's just not good enough for the former, nowhere near, and if you guys don't think his contribution to the latter is genuinely altruistic then he doesn't qualify on either count...

[Gnd]

Are you mad???? Him (speak to the chaps that sing with him, they are enthused beyond belief (anyone see War Horse at the Proms?)) or some scum MP who managed to get away with hiding expense claims (not to mention all the bankers that are doing such a philanthropic job!) - I know which I would prefer. Those that can do, those that can't etc..................................

[Melchett01]

Aren't you supposed to demonstrate either a significant contribution in your area of expertise, or to charity or the community?

According to the Cabinet Office website, Knighthoods are awarded for "having a major contribution in any activity, usually at national level. Other people working in the nominee’s area will see their contribution as inspirational and significant, requiring commitment over a long period of time."

I'm no musician and haven't particularly followed his recent ventures, so can't comment on a professional level, but that's the benchmark he needs to work towards for a Knighthood. All I would say is, he's 39 and appears to have come to prominence in 2007; does 7-8 years (3-4 tours in military parlance) count as a long period of time? I would add that the same website's criteria for the BEM is "high impact work of a relatively a short duration e.g. 3-4 years." if that is any sort of reference to durations.

[tmmorris]

Those that can do, those that can't etc..................................

Gosh, never heard that one before.

My principal employment is to perform on my instrument six days a week. I also do some teaching and run a cadet unit. That lot is deemed by my employer to be worth a decent salary. I could go and run choirs for a living, but I wouldn't be able to afford the cut in salary.

Anyway, back to Malone. As far as I am concerned he is an indifferent musician but a first rate teacher and inspirer. Ironic. However I don't think his musical credentials justify an award beyond that he already has. His community activities might, but only if he's not blatantly on the make. Others on here say he is - I don't know.

[victor tango]

Latest gong recipients;

Joan Collins
Esther Rantzen
John Hurt

Never mind Gareth, just carry on inspiring people the way you do and forget the gong lottery for what its worth:rolleyes:

[goudie]

Until recently I sang in a male harmony chorus for quite a few years. When Gareth Malone came on the scene some years ago, building up choirs from nothing, it did wonders for our recruiting figures. Inspirational he certainly is.