… requesting her to instigate a new Order of chivalry for posthumous accolade
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This is a draft that I’m working on and may not be the final draft sent to her.
For those of you who don’t know, Mr Tony Hart has died but days ago with no accolade even though he deserves one. Recently, some people have petitioned No. 10 for such an accolade to be awarded to him. From what I gather, No. 10 responded that there was a limit to each year of how many accolades can be awarded. Now that Mr Hart has passed away, there is no way of him receiving such an accolade posthumously as it is forbidden, save that of the Victoria Cross or other military medals that Mr Hart is not qualified to. This is such a travesty of justice as I have seen many people get accolades for less than what Mr Hart had contributed to society (June Sarpong? WTF…)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7836112.stm
The only other way is for a new Order to be founded which has a clause for posthumous awards and that can only be done by the Queen herself as the monarch is the only one with the power to do so. Plus, there are others who maybe deserving of such an accolade that have slipped out of sight and died without recognition. This is long overdue. Why can only military accolades be awarded posthumously when civil ones cannot?
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Her Majesty The Queen
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
Madam,
Recently Your Majesty would have heard of the sad news of the passing of Mr Tony Hart who was one of the most important children’s television presenter and artist of the last century. Not only is his contribution in his field great but he also touched the hearts of children during his life and encouraged them to be creative and inspired them to take up art and drawing, some of which I believe have made their careers out of it.
Even though his achievements and national status is evident and unquestionable, he has not been formally recognised officially in form of an accolade. Given that he is truly deserving in the eyes of the British public, who hold him affectionately in their memories and in their hearts, it would be a travesty of justice to not recognise him in such a way. A few months ago, I have discovered that a petition was drawn up supplicating Your Majesty’s Prime Minister to recognise him with an honour. Unfortunately, it is now too late.
From my limited knowledge of Your Majesty’s honours system, I believe that current honours and knighthoods cannot be bestowed posthumously save that of certain military accolades such as the Victoria Cross, etc. Because of this, I feel that a number of great contributors to this country that have died and received no accolade in their lifetime have been denied something which they rightfully deserved and it is upsetting to the British public that this is the case and that these oversights cannot be corrected after realisation of loss.
Therefore, Your Majesty, I wish to supplicate the following: that a new Order of chivalry be created that specifically honours those who have passed away and have not been awarded an accolade for their contributions in their lifetime. This will truly ‘fill in the missing gap’ in the current situation and I believe the British public would fully support such a proposition. It may also be simpler to modify the statutes of an existing Order to allow for posthumous awards, however minor. I think the British public will appreciate Your Majesty’s concern over this matter and it would definitely be a welcomed addition to the honours system.
I pray that Your Majesty considers this proposition carefully as I believe it is an important issue that needs to be addressed. I thank Your Majesty for taking time to read this humble guqin player’s letter.
I wish Your Majesty well in the coming years and look forward to hearing Your Majesty’s grace on the matter.
I have the honour to be, Madam, Your Majesty’s humble and obedient servant
[signature]
Charles Rupert Tsua, BA
XX/01/2009
