ONCE again highest honours go to actors like Tony Robinson and people who are just doing a well paid job; and few token sops to members of the public.

Is it not time the honours system was only give to the ordinary heroes of the voluntary services from our towns and villages?

Scout leaders who devote years to teaching our young to be honest, upright citizens without any financial rewards, the Salvation Army and many other voluntary organisations I could name, our own Charles Burnett III who risked his life and money to gain the World Steam Car record for Great Britain, and without any publicity gave £20,000 to Help for Heroes, and hundreds of thousands to British charities.

Perhaps, though, Scout leaders feel “there can be greater reward in life than devoting their time and energy to the advancement and future of British youth”

and do not seek the tainted baubles of our honours mafia.

PHILIP PEARCE-SMITH, Holbury.