The High Council of Elders have graciously received nominations for the BFG New Year Honours list and have been pleased to apply their considerable and collective wisdom to assessing the worthiness of those supplications put forward by their peers. In contrast to inferior honours systems, the BFG list serves both to celebrate achievements of those honoured and to confirm that in this world fairness, justice and inclusivity count for more than fame, money and lineage. A further disparity is that BFG honours may not be turned down – they stick like cockleburrs to a donkey’s bottom.

The honours this year fall broadly into three categories.

• Services to the music.
• Services to the community.
• International awards.

The listings should not be taken to imply a hierarchy. We suggest that within other systems, the class of award is too often based on accidents of birth or on the addresses within one’s Christmas card list rather than on the nature of the achievement being acknowledged. The BFG Honourati and their achievements shall not be demeaned by comparators, but will know merely that on this occasion they have been measured against those unfortunates who didn't get an award and have been deemed to be much, much better. (Unfortunates should get their nominations in early for next year’s list.)

To see the recently commissioned portrait of the High Council at Christmas click here.

For Services to The Music.

RAMA

Ridicule and Mirth Award for being the Best Banjo By Far - for continued enthusiasm despite the pain and loneliness inflected by the pursuit.

WDA

Wee Dude Award for remaining loyal to the cause while living with banjo player.

PLC

Percussive Leg Clomping - for foot stomping with style

LWA

Limp Wrist Award for services to bowing

BMA

Billy Malley Award - for musical taste in the face of derision.

ZOY

Zombie of the Year - for playing while feigning death.

NPT

Not Playing That - for saying noooooooooooooo lots.

SIFW

Smiling is for Wimps award - for being the most serious learner.

HOoM

Have One of Mine award for supply of eggs, shaky and not so shaky.

SHA

The Simply Hanging Around award for being the most patient parent.

SVA

Smirnoff Vodka Award in recognition of audience participation

HAS

Hide And Seek award for services to losing accordions.

BWC

Busking it With Conviction - services to bass notes

PIFA

Persistence in the Face of Adversity award – for playing on while David and Peter engineer a trainwreck.

RPIF

Real Persistence in the Face of Adversity award – for playing a pretend musical instrument.

WIW

Whistling in the Wind award – for making sounds by unnatural means.

For Services to the Community

SAFA

Staying Away For Ages

SSA

Sinking Ship Award - for leaving

GRUB

Growing Rapidly Upwards Boldly - for most height gained in a year

NGAL

Not Growing At All – for services to the staturally challenged.

FAH

Finding a Hat - for finding a hat and wearing it with pride - like an old fart.

TAHA

Tortoise and Hare Award for turning up late.

YAIO

Yoda Award for Internet Observation and for answering the Glossary quiz first.

EC

Excellent Camouflager - for being invisible against the curtains

HPIF

Heart-warming Persistence in the Face of Adversity award – for coming from Crieff and still smiling.

IOE

Intolerance of Everything (edible) - for blaming The Darkside for his prejudices.

LLB

Laptop Lyrics Balls-up - for services to mice.

MCSC

Marie Curie Silk Cut award for air quality

PM

Perfect Man - (list with Bigfoot, Yeti etc) for being there when needed but otherwise ……..

FLV

Fault Line Voyager- enduring travel from another tectonic plate to be with us.

CMT

Convincing Multi-Tasking award - for showing that blondes play and smile at the same time.

HOF

Honorary Old Fart - for services to baking