I originally added this as an update to yesterday's New Year message but I think it deserves greater prominence:
Congratulations to David Hockney.
Britain's greatest living artist – a member of Forest's Supporters Council – has been appointed a member of the Order of Merit by the Queen.
The order, the BBC reports, was created by King Edward VII in 1902 and is restricted to 24 members and "rare additional foreign recipients".
Curiously, an anti-smoking comment along the lines of 'Hockney is not worthy of the Order because he's a smoker' has been removed from the BBC website.
Update: The AFP news agency reports that:
British artist David Hockney has responded to his appointment to the Order of Merit with typical humour, saying he was glad his controversial campaign for smokers' rights had not worked against him.
"Hockney," AFP explains, "is a pro-tobacco campaigner who has regularly spoken out in favour of smokers' rights".
The Order of Merit, says the agency, is a "personal gift from the sovereign."
More than that, confides the Independent, it is a "hugely prestigious award bestowed by the Queen without ministerial advice" (my emphasis).
Below: David Hockney with Greg Knight MP at the Save Our Pubs & Clubs reception in June. See David Hockney lights up the House of Commons.
See also: Looking for David Hockney (video)
