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I know the Queen loves her horses and thus there are a few ‘Sirs’ in our game, but how did Mark Prescott get the title? I’ve gone on his wiki and it’s linked to some ‘Prescott baronets’ page where it looks like his ancestors had a similar privilege?
Was just thinking it’s weird how Lewis Hamilton had to win 7 F1 world championships to earn the title, yet others (even Sir Mark Todd) seem given the title like it’s a handout.
I guess these chaps are all white and upper class so it shouldn’t be a surprise.
Yeah reading the wiki further it seems that his near relatives were Sir’s so I guess if you’re upper class and white you just get to be a Sir especially if you’re into horses.
People can be given a ‘lifetime’ title or inherit via a relation.The former is conferred for that person’s life while the latter is passed from one generation to heirs.
I stand to be corrected but I do believe it’s an hereditary title
good luck to allThink you may be right Blackcountry, wasn’t aware of that until now, I guess some Sirs are hereditary and others aren’t.
Why is anyone a “Sir?”
An increasing number of people regard the Honours system as garbage and refuse to recognise or acknowledge it.
Yes, a few people from non-elitist, non-establishment, backgrounds get gongs, but a decent pay rise would help them more.
Talking of which, nine times out of ten Honours are for “services to lining your own pockets all your life.”
Utter b******s all of it.
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"To give him his full title he is Sir Mark Prescott, 3rd Baronet (of Godmanchester).
He inherited this baronetcy from his uncle, who in turn got his from Sir William Prescott. The latter was the 1st Baronet, who was so honoured for his work with the Metropolitan Water Board.
A baronetcy ranks slightly above a common or garden knighthood. I don’t know why the title is inheritable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_William_Prescott,_1st_Baronet
As far as I’m concerned SMP can plot up as many horses as he wants, but it’s hard to like a man whose personal interests include coursing, cock fighting and bull fighting.
Noticed that Seasider! Bull fighting is just the most pointless sport ever created. I don’t agree with cock fighting but at least it’s comparable to Gladiators or a more lethal UFC fight. We always want to know who will win in a fight so I get the logic, but waving a flag infront of a bull before stabbing it to death? Wtf is the aim/goal/point in that rubbish?!
Ian I used to be under the impression that people were given the ‘Sir’ title for outstanding accomplishment in their field – Lewis Hamilton being a great example. Upon discovering it’s not that simple I have to say I agree with you.
“Was just thinking it’s weird how Lewis Hamilton had to win 7 F1 world championships to earn the title, yet others (even Sir Mark Todd) seem given the title like it’s a handout.
I guess these chaps are all white and upper class so it shouldn’t be a surprise.”
I don’t think the horse basher Todd is all that posh. He was a dairy farmer and did a bit of horse dealing I think. He won individual gold at two Olympics and medals at four Olympics in total plus other big competition success, so about on a par with what the likes of Dame Kelly Holmes or Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill achieved.
greengrass – fair comparison but I feel it’s much easier for someone from these shores and other well-off countries to do well in equestrian compared to athletics, the barriers to entry in equestrian are ridiculous and only a tiny minority of the world ever get a chance to ride a horse, let alone professionally or regularly. Compare that to athletics where pretty much anyone in the world has a chance to rise through the ranks through school competitions.
Denis Thatcher was the last person – and hopefully the very last – to be awarded a Baronetcy, in 1990; so his rather unpleasant son is the current holder – Sir Mark Thatcher Bt.
Ben, I think you’ll find that bullfighting is a hangover from Roman amphitheatre games. That doesn’t make it acceptable 2,000 years later of course, but it’s more comparable to Gladiatorial combat than cock-fighting. Romans in the cheap seats at the Colosseum would have struggled to see two small birds going at it…
“Danny Boyle sky rocketed in my estimation when he refused a knighthood.”
TTC, Sir Mark could have allowed his baronetcy to lapse by not registering his proofs of succession.
However, he inherited his title at 16 in 1965 while still attending Harrow. If I had been him I’d have been tempted to keep it as well. It would have been a nice twist for my schoolmasters to call me Sir Seasider while I was addressing them as a humble Mr.
Unlikely, perhaps.
Here’s a list of those who’ve declined honours:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_declined_a_British_honour
Notably, sections 3.7 3.11 & 3.19, which are the gongs chucked around like confetti
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