This New Year
2019 let us salute Ayrshire violinist Nicola Benedetti CBE, who is as good on
the Scottish fiddle as she is on the classical violin. Nicola makes classical music modern and fun.
The New Year
Honours List is a part of British tradition. It is probably harmless, possibly
meaningless: if you know someone, they can recommend you. If not, nothing. Chance
and favouritism are the two main motors for honours. Talent too, of course. While it rewards political
hacks and wheeler-dealers, the New Year Honours List also allows lowly-but-worthy national servants of
the police force, nursing, post office and many other professions to find
recognition, as well as stars of music and dance, cricketers, footballers and
television stars who regularly feature.
When someone as
talented and as interesting as Nicola Benedetti becomes a Commander of the
Order of the British Empire, CBE (which is higher than MBE or OBE, but not as high as a Dame DBE), it seems to make the honours system worthwhile.
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