Slim pickings for defence industry in UK Birthday Honours June 2010

The Labour Government 1997 - 2010 steadily degraded the public value it placed on the defence industry, as illustrated in the honours it prevailed upon the Queen to bestow twice a year. Whereas in days of old the heads of the very largest companies might expect to get knighthoods, with a goodly sprinkle of "gongs" throughout the lower echelons, the very last list Labour prepared, and which was announced today, is reduced to a mere single OBE and two MBEs. "We hate you" despite your contribution to exports, jobs, investment in technology and not least re-equipping the fighting army for two unpopular wars in two distant countries, could not be more clearly written. As is the message once more reinforced to the country's young people, growing up on the pap of meaningless misbehaving celebrity, that "social work", football or marrying an ageing Hollywood actor was far more important in Labour's Britain than manufacturing industry. We look to the Liberal Conservative Coalition to start the process of re-orientation at the New Year. After all, it's a cost-free process!

Nevertheless, congratulations to :

John Hambly OBE, Deputy Technical Director, QinetiQ

Norman James Bone MBE, Senior Vice-President, Selex Galileo

Jonathan Stewart, Country Manager, Iraq, KBR

The high level military awards were:

THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH

As Knight Grand Cross

Admiral Sir Mark STANHOPE KCB OBE

As Knight Commander

Lieutenant General James Benjamin DUTTON CBE Royal Marines

As Companions

Major General Garry Stuart ROBISON Royal Marines

Vice Admiral Peter John WILKINSON CVO

Lieutenant General Richard Arthur David APPLEGATE OBE
Late Royal Regiment of Artillery

Major General Andrew Richard GREGORY
Late Royal Regiment of Artillery

Major General David John RUTHERFORD-JONES
Late The Light Dragoons

Air Vice-Marshal Carl William DIXON OBE

Air Vice-Marshal Richard Frank GARWOOD CBE DFC

THE MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

As Commanders

Commodore Campbell Stuart CHRISTIE

Captain Michael Edward FARRAGE

Captain Richard FARRINGTON OBE

Rear Admiral Ian MONCRIEFF

Colonel Crispian Edward Ian BEATTIE
Late The Royal Green Jackets

Colonel Charles Beaupre Bell CLEE
Late The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons)

Brigadier John Patrick Simon DONNELLY OBE
Late The Cheshire Regiment

Colonel Richard Mark James ROLLO–WALKER OBE
Late The Light Infantry

Air Commodore Colin BASNETT

Air Commodore Kenneth Bruce McCANN

Group Captain Michael Christopher NEVILLE

The remaining honours can be found here,