Stars, ordinary Joes earn royal honors

LONDON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Tabloid newsmakers Simon Cowell and Bruce Forsyth won't be honored for chivalry, but veteran British actors Sheila Hancock and David Suchet both made the list.

Also on the Order of the British Empire list were award-winning composer and broadcaster Howard Goodall and actress Harriet Walter, The Guardian reported Friday.

Honored artists also included television producer John Lloyd; Mark Damazer, former controller of BBC Radio 4 who became head of Oxford's St Peter's College; Richard Thompson, guitarist and lyricist; and Herbert Kretzmer, whose career spans newspaper, television and theater criticism and who wrote the lyrics for "Les Miserables."

Former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox also was honored -- not for her musicianship, but for her work with Oxfam and AIDS charities in Africa, The Guardian said.

Actor Burt Kwouk, who played the manservant Cato in the "Pink Panther" movies, was honored for helping to open doors for other actors in the Chinese community, the newspaper said.

Reality television hosts Cowell and Forsyth, despite their campaigning, failed to make the list.

Howard Webb, who refereed the World Cup final in South Africa and handed out a record 14 yellow cards and a red one in a match between Spain and the Netherlands, was honored, as was Ryder Cup-winning golfer Graeme McDowell, The Daily Telegraph said. Retired rugby player Mike Catt and rock climber Joe Brown also were on list.

Ordinary Joes earning recognition include bee farmer Anne Buckingham, Tower Bridge bridgemaster Eric Sutherns, and Aslie Pitter, founder of Britain's first gay football team, the Telegraph reported.

Fruit farm worker Andrew Jarvis received the Royal Victorian Medal, as did Roger Williams, Royal Train catering manager.

The Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established by King George V and has five classes in civil and military divisions.