Order of the Companions of Honour

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Ribband and badge of the "Companions of Honour"

The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. It was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry, or religion.

The order consists of the Sovereign, plus no more than 65 Companions of Honour with, originally, a quota of 45 members for the United Kingdom, 7 for Australia, 2 for New Zealand and 11 for other countries. Additionally, foreigners may be added as "honorary members". The order confers no knighthood or other status, but recipients of this one-class order are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "CH".

The insignia of the Order consists of an oval medallion with an oak tree, a shield with the royal arms hanging from one branch, and on the left a mounted knight in armour. The badge's clear blue border bears the motto IN ACTION FAITHFUL AND IN HONOUR CLEAR (Alexander Pope's description (in iambic pentameter) in his Epistle to Mr Addison of James Craggs, later used on Craggs' monument in Westminster Abbey) in gold letters, and the oval is surmounted by an imperial crown. Men wear the badge on a ribbon (red with golden border threads) around their necks, and women on a bow at the left shoulder.

[edit] Current members

Lord Tweedsmuir as Governor General of Canada wearing the Companion of Honour badge around his neck

• Sovereign: HM The Queen
• Members:
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Ashley of Stoke CH PC (1975)
  • The Rt Hon. Malcolm Fraser AC CH (1976)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Glenamara CH PC (1976)
  • The Rt Hon. Sir Michael Somare GCL GCMG CH CF (1978)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Healey CH MBE PC (1979)
  • The Rt Hon. Sir Brian Talboys AC CH KCB (1981)
  • The Rt Hon. Doug Anthony AC CH (1981)
  • Dr Frederick Sanger OM CH CBE FRS (1981)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Carrington KG GCMG CH MC PC DL (1983)
  • Lucian Freud OM CH CBE (1983)
  • Dr Sydney Brenner CH FRS (1987)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Tebbit CH PC (1987)
  • Professor Stephen Hawking CH CBE FRS FRSA (1989)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Baker of Dorking CH PC (1992)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville CH PC (1992)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord King of Bridgwater CH PC (1992)
  • Dame Janet Baker CH DBE (1993)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Owen CH PC (1994)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Hurd of Westwell CH CBE PC (1995)
  • Sir David Attenborough OM CH CVO CBE FRS FZS (1996)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Howe of Aberavon CH PC QC (1996)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Heseltine CH PC (1997)
  • David Hockney CH RA (1997)
  • Peter Brook CH CBE (1998)
  • Dr Eric Hobsbawm CH FBA (1998)
  • The Rt Hon. Sir John Major KG CH (1998)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Patten of Barnes CH PC (1998)
  • Bridget Riley CH CBE (1998)
  • General John de Chastelain CH OC CMM CD (1999)
  • Doris Lessing CH OBE (2000)
  • Sir Harrison Birtwistle CH (2001)
  • Sir Colin Davis CH CBE (2001)
  • Sir George Christie CH (2001)
  • Sir Michael Howard OM CH CBE MC (2002)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Hannay of Chiswick GCMG CH (2003)
  • Sir Howard Hodgkin CH CBE (2003)
  • Professor James Lovelock CH CBE FRS (2003)
  • Sir Charles Mackerras AC CH CBE (2003)
  • Sir Denis Mahon CH CBE (2003)
  • Professor Dan McKenzie CH FRS (2003)
  • Dame Judi Dench CH DBE FRSA (2005)
  • Professor Anthony Pawson CH OC OOnt FRS FRSC (2006)
  • Sir Ian McKellen CH CBE (2008)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Rogers of Riverside CH (2008)

• Honorary Members:
  • The Hon. Lee Kuan Yew GCMG CH (1970)
  • Professor Amartya Sen CH (2000)
  • Bernard Haitink CH KBE (2002)

[edit] See also

• List of Members of the Order of the Companions of Honour
• List of honorary British Knights
• List of people who have declined a British honour

[edit] External links

• British Royal Family - Order of the Companions of Honour page

[edit] References

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