UK National Honour for Jeff Matthews

From our local 'paper (Jeff lives a couple of streets from me):-

"The designer behind some of the most famous stamps of the past four
decades has been appointed an MBE[1].

Beckenham resident Jeffrey Matthews was included in the New Year's
honours list for his services to graphic design.

The 75-year-old grandfather-of-four has been designing stamps for 45
years, including commemorative sets for the weddings of Prince Charles
and Prince Andrew and the Queen's silver wedding anniversary and 60th
birthday.

So important has Mr Matthews' work on stamps been, our everyday stamps
were all (sic[*]) his designs and the colour palette used bears his
name.

He said: 'I found out (about the honour) in late November totally out
of the blue. I went all weak at the knees.

I come from a long line of craftsmen and it is lovely to be recognised
in what must be the twilight of my career.'

The Kings Hall Road resident still works in traditional ways, hand
drawing or painting all the designs he creates.

But for the Queen's 60th birthday stamps released in 1986 he broke the
mould and for the first time used computers once the final design was
complete.

He added: 'Despite controversy surrounding the honours just at the
moment[2], I take it as it was meant, in recognition of my work and am
very proud to receive it.'"

There is quite a good accompanying photo.

Chris

Explanations for overseas readers:-

The British honours system is intended to give public recognition of
individuals' achievements.

[1] "Member of the British Empire". One of the grades of honours.

[2] People are wingeing about anachronistic namings of the honours,
especially non-PC-ness of terms like "Empire". Also about the way the
people who receive the honours are selected.
[*] Don't expect a local reporter to have read SG!