Honours listing

Having seen the New Year Honours list I am even more convinced the system is in desperate need of overhaul.

Senior civil servants, high- ranking officers and local government officers should not, as a matter of course, be awarded an honour just because they did their job, as they are already well rewarded for their efforts. Honours, as the word implies, should be awarded only for exceptional effort in achievement in deserving public recognition.

The word “Empire” must be dropped from all awards as we are simply not part of any empire. If such an overhaul was to be completed it would restore the dignity and respect of the honour system which has now become a bit of a tarnished reminder of days gone by.

Dennis Forbes Grattan

Mugiemoss Road

Bucksburn, Aberdeen