[Slowhand] Clapton Gets CBE

[ToeKneeF]

Clapton, Davies Get Royal Honors in U.K.
By BETH GARDINER

LONDON (AP) - Could Queen Elizabeth II be a rock 'n roll fan? Legendary 
guitarist Eric Clapton and Kinks founder Ray Davies received royal 
honors Wednesday, becoming Commanders of the Order of the British Empire 
just weeks after Rolling Stone Mick Jagger picked up his knighthood at 
Buckingham Palace.

Also among the luminaries singled out for awards in the annual New 
Year's Honors list were World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, who 
became a knight, and tennis star Tim Henman, made an Officer of the 
Order of the British Empire, or OBE.

This year's honors have been the subject of more than the usual amount 
of debate.

Responding to criticism that the selection process was too secretive and 
tainted by politics and public relations, the government announced it 
would review the system to make it more open and independent.

One leaked document said Henman, a four-time Wimbledon semifinalist 
whose failure to win the tournament has bitterly disappointed Britons, 
was being recommended for an OBE to ``add interest'' to the list.

A prominent scientist, Colin Blakemore, complained publicly about 
reports that he was denied a knighthood because he is a vocal proponent 
of research on animals. He did not get an award.

Though the honors are bestowed by the queen, she chooses only a few. 
Most recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from 
nominations made by the government and the public.

But Britons are divided over the importance of the awards - Keith 
Richards criticized his bandmate Jagger for accepting the knighthood, 
saying he shouldn't have associated himself with such a symbol of the 
establishment.

And The Sunday Times published a list of 300 well-known people - 
including singer David Bowie, comedian John Cleese and actors Albert 
Finney and Kenneth Branagh - who had declined honors since 1945.

Clapton, 58, a member of the 1960s R&B band the Yardbirds and a founder 
of the rock trio Cream, has won more than 15 Grammy awards and gained 
greatest renown for his solo career, with songs like ``Layla,'' ``After 
Midnight'' and ``Tears in Heaven.''

Davies, 59, founded the Kinks with his brother Dave. Their hard-edged, 
guitar-driven music drew a huge following in the '60s and beyond with 
hits like ``You Really Got Me,'' ``All Day and All of the Night'' and 
``Lola.''

Physicist Berners-Lee, now at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
is credited with making the Internet accessible to millions by inventing 
the Web system of servers and browsers which he distributed free.

Among the 981 people receiving honors: 37 players and coaches from 
England's national rugby team, which won this year's World Cup. 
Lesser-known names also were singled out for awards, sometimes for 
quirky pursuits.

Andy Hine, chairman of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, was 
made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, or MBE, for services 
to tourism.

Animal behavior expert Bruce Fogle, co-founder of Hearing Dogs for Deaf 
People, also got an MBE, as did Anne Patrizio, an Edinburgh, Scotland, 
teacher who has campaigned for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and 
transgendered people.

MBEs also went to a milkman, a school handyman and a former crossing guard.

Author and historian Harold Evans, whose book ``The American Century,'' 
was a best seller, was made a knight. He is a former editor of The Times 
and The Sunday Times in Britain and served as vice chairman and 
editorial director of the New York Daily News and U.S. News and World 
Report magazine.

Former NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson received a knighthood.

Actress Joan Plowright, wife of the late Laurence Olivier, was made a 
dame, the female equivalent of a knight. So was Rabbi Julia Neuberger, a 
broadcaster, author and health care charity chief.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE, awards went to 
``Billy Elliot'' director Stephen Daldry and to Philip Pullman, author 
of the children's fantasy trilogy ``His Dark Materials.'' Prime Minister 
Tony Blair's official spokesman Godric Smith also got a CBE, as did 
cartoonist Ronald Searle, 83.

Actress Virginia McKenna, whose role in the African lion saga ``Born 
Free,'' led to a career in wildlife conservation, received an OBE. An 
OBE also went to craggy-faced actor Pete Postlethwaite, nominated for an 
Oscar for 1993's ``In the Name of the Father.''

In descending order, the honors are knighthoods, CBE, OBE and MBE. Those 
who are awarded CBEs, OBEs and MBEs have no title but can put the 
letters after their names.


12/30/03 19:10
© Copyright The Associated Press.
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