Arise, Sir Del and Sir Tel: Jason and Wogan knighted
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Your support makes all the difference.His dodgy deals down Peckham market made Del Boy Trotter not just Britain's most popular comic creation but embodied the entrepreneurial spirit of the times. Yesterday David Jason, 65, the actor who brought him to life along with a host of other characters from Pop Larkin to Granville and Inspector Frost, was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. Jason said he felt "moved and humbled" to head the list of celebrities, sporting stars and musicians. "It is totally unexpected and I can only hope it will bring a little pleasure to the viewing public as it has brought great pleasure to me and my family," he said.
There was an honorary knighthood for Terry Wogan, the veteran broadcaster and gently mocking voice of the Eurovision Song Contest. "I hope I can prove worthy of it," said Wogan.
Dame Judi Dench, the Oscar-winning actress, becomes a companion of honour, while Rod Eddington, outgoing chief executive of British Airways, received a knighthood for reviving the company's fortunes.
Downing Street pointed out that the lion's share of awards were to charity and voluntary workers as well as ordinary public servants. These included Moira Brown, a lollipop lady from Renfrewshire in Scotland, and Doreen Sweeney, a rail platform assistant from Bexleyheath, who were made MBEs.
Tony Blair also honours a clutch of his guitar heroes. Brian May, the Queen guitarist who marked the Queen's golden jubilee by playing the national anthem from the roof of Buckingham Palace, is appointed CBE. Jimmy Page, 61, the legendary Led Zeppelin axeman, is made OBE for services to disadvantaged children in Brazil. He established the Action for Brazil's Children Trust with his wife, Jimena, after being appalled by the plight of street children living in Rio de Janeiro's slums during a visit to the country in 1994.
His former mentor and the man many consider a founding father of the British blues movement, John Mayall, was appointed OBE. His band The Bluesbreakers launched the careers of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and Mick Taylor.
The Band Aid founder Midge Ure, who is organising the Live8 concerts with Bob Geldof, is appointed OBE. Jonathan Ross is appointed OBE for his services to broadcasting, while Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, co-chairmen of Working Title Films, who have produced more than 70 films, including Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bean, Notting Hill and Bridget Jones's Diary, are appointed CBEs.
Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi, and Iqbal Sacranie, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, are knighted.
A knighthood also goes to John Tomlinson, one of Britain's foremost opera singers. Christopher Wright, chairman and founder of the Chrysalis Group, is appointed CBE, while Sylvia Young, founder of the Sylvia Young Theatre School, is made an OBE.
The award-winning novelist William Boyd is made a CBE. Hugh Orde, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, receives a knighthood.
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