CBE

Robin Duval, with a background in radio, advertising and the Independent Broadcasting Authority, was awarded a CBE for services to the film industry. He was Director of the British Board of Film Classification from 1999 to 2004, and although only there for 5 years, he was responsible for a major shift in policy. Under Duval the BBFC was transformed from a secretive organisation into a much more open organisation which is now regarded as one of Europe's most liberal film classifiers. After extensive research into public opinion, he announced in September 2000 that the BBFC would no longer cut films for adults unless they infringed criminal law, on the basis that the public was more reponsible than they were given credit for. He has led a change in philosophy which has moved in the direction of providing more information about what the film might contain and enabling people to make informed choice.

(See www.screenonline.org.uk for fuller details).

 

OBE

The Reverend Prebendary Richard Bewes, Rector of All Souls Church, Langham

Place, London was awarded an OBE for services to the Church of England.

A forthright author of many books about Christianity, whose written word and world-wide speaking engagements are popular with evangelicals including Billy Graham, Reverend Bewes is a steeering committee member of a group called Anglican Mainstream, which gives you a flavour of his approach to Christianity.

Ms Caroline Warne, JP and Chair of the International Standards Organisation's Committee on Consumer Policy was awarded an OBE for services to Consumers.

Mr David Astbury, Producer and Presenter with the British Forces Broadcasting Service was awarded an OBE for services to Broadcasting.

 

January 11, 2005