Not Today Your Majesty Trivia Quiz

Answer: Peter Alliss

Alliss was offered the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1992 but declined, givng his reasoning in a 2004 interview as, "Honours like that should only go to people who are brave in battle or help others less fortunate than themselves. I was just doing a job and there's nothing courageous or special about being a golf commentator. So I was never going to consider an OBE for services to golf."
Thanks to theguardian.com for the quote.

Answer: Stephen Hawking

"A Brief History Of Time"(1988), saw Hawking explaining mysteries such as black holes, space and planets in a language that the man in the street could understand, although I will admit he completely baffled me on many occasions. Hawking turned down a knighthood in 1997 saying he didn't like titles, although he revealed in private correspondence, that the reason for declining the honour was that he felt the government had mismanaged the funding of UK science, in particular the merger of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils.

He was awarded and accepted a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) award in 1982 and in 2009 accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama.

Answer: Alan Rickman

Rickman also brilliantly played Hans Gruber in 1988s "Die Hard", Harry in "Love Actually"(2003) and voiced the caterpillar in "Alice Through The Looking Glass"(2016). Rickman was offered both an OBE and a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) but declined on both occasions without making his reasons public, though many think it was in protest over the lack of Conservative party funding for the arts and for theatres.

Answer: L.S. Lowry

Many of Lowry's works depict the areas around Salford and Pendlebury, and among his more famous works are "Going To The Match" (1953), which sold for just over £1.9 million in 1999, "Coming From The Mill" (1930) and "The Football Match" (1949) which sold for £5.6 million in 2011. Lowry holds the record for the most honours refused, as he declined an OBE, CBE and two 'companions of honour' between 1955 and 1976 as well as a knighthood in 1968.

His reasoning was simple, he had no desire to be treated differently simply because of a title and was particularly against the idea of being referred to as Sir Laurence.

Answer: George Harrison

Harrison hit the top in both countries, as well as many others with his 1970 record, "My Sweet Lord." Although he was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 1965, along with the rest of The Beatles, he turned down an OBE in 2000 as he felt insulted by the insensitivity of it after fellow Beatle McCartney was awarded a knighthood in 1997.

Answer: Nitin Sawhney

Sawhney has an abundance of talents, whether it be comedic writing and acting or music, which remains his first love. He has both performed with, and conducted the London Symphony Orchestra and also performed as a DJ at music festivals, specialising in Afro beat, Dubstep and Asian breakbeat music.

He is very proud of his British Indian heritage and refused an OBE in 2007 for ethical reasons, saying, "I wouldn't like anything with the word 'empire' after my name."

Answer: Roald Dahl

In between those two books, Dahl published a treasure trove of kid's literature including "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory"(1964), "The BFG"(1982) and "Matilda"(1988) among many others. Dahl never revealed his reasoning for turning down an OBE in 1986, but the common belief amongst his friends is that he felt he deserved a knighthood. Whatever the reason, he died in 1990, without receiving either honour.

Answer: Dawn French

French shot to fame with comedy partner Jennifer Saunders in the late 1980s and then starred in the BBC comedy "The Vicar of Dibley"(1994-1998), playing the title character. Both French and Saunders refused an OBE in 2001, issuing a joint statement later saying, "At the time, we felt that we were being paid very well to have a lot of fun. It didn't seem right somehow. We didn't deserve a pat on the back. It felt a bit fake to stand alongside people who devoted their lives to truly worthy causes."
Thanks to metro.co.uk for the quote.

Answer: David Bowie

Australia gave Bowie his first number one single, when "Sorrow" hit the top in 1973 and he had a number one in USA before his UK chart topper, with "Fame" in 1975. He would go on to achieve two more solo number one's in UK with "Ashes To Ashes" (1980) and "Let's Dance" (1983) but no more in either Australia or USA. Bowie turned down a CBE in 2000, explaining, " "I seriously don't know what it's for" and in 2003 turned down a knighthood, saying "I would never have any intention of accepting anything like that."
Thanks to independent.co.uk for the quote.

Answer: Benjamin Zephaniah

The recording of "Rasta" led to a meeting and a long friendship with Nelson Mandela. Zephaniah refused an OBE in 2003, giving his reason as, "I get angry when I hear that word 'empire' as it reminds me of slavery, it reminds me of thousands of years of brutality, it reminds me of how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised...Benjamin Zephaniah OBE - no way Mr Blair, no way Mrs Queen. I am profoundly anti-empire."
Thanks to theguardian.com for the quote.