Form of address

It should be noted that the correct form of address for a Knight Bachelor is e.g. ‘Sir John Smith' and his wife is ‘Lady Smith' (no first name is used, although occasionally ladies place their first name in brackets in less formal lists e.g. ‘Lady (Jane) Smith'. ‘Jane, Lady Smith' is the normal style for divorced wives of Knights Bachelor). In formal documents the word ‘Knight' or the abbreviation ‘Kt.' may be added. This style is often adopted by Knights Bachelor who are also peers, baronets or knights of the various statutory orders.

Membership worldwide

As Canada, Australia and New Zealand now have their own Honours Systems, they no longer create Knights Bachelor. Hence the falling number of members in those countries. Knights living in Australia have regular dinners.

Other activities

Receptions after the Annual Service of Dedication and dinners are held regularly. HM The Queen has frequently honoured the Society by her presence at these functions. Also among others, HRH The Princess Royal, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, HRH Princess Michael of Kent and HRH Princess Alexandra have been the Society's guests. In addition, at the suggestion of Sir Ian MacFarlane, luncheons are held periodically with a well known Knight Bachelor as principal speaker.

The Society in Scotland

In 1989, in order to provide interest in the Society, a division in Scotland was established under the chairmanship of Sir Maxwell Harper Gow. This thrives today and holds an annual Knights' Dinner, raising funds for the Imperial Society and promoting fellowship amongst Knights Bachelor north of the Border.
 
 

RECENT HONOURS LISTS

 

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 2008

 

KNIGHTS BACHELOR

 

Sir Iain Anderson, CBE
Sir William Atkinson
The Rt Hon Sir Alan Beith, MP
Professor Sir Drummond Bone, FRSE, FRSA
Professor Sir Christopher Edwards
Sir Mark Elder, CBE
Sir Leonard Fenwick, CBE
Sir Philip Hunter, CBE
Sir Moir Lockhead, OBE
Professor Sir Andrew McMichael, FRS
Sir William Moorcroft
Professor Sir Anthony Newman Taylor, CBE
Sir William Sargent, CBE
Sir Michael Snyder
Sir Paul Stephenson, QPM
Sir Peter Viggers, MP
Professor Sir Nicholas Wald, FRS

 

OVERSEAS

Sir Richard Roberts  (Diplomatic Service & Overseas List)
Sir Koitaga Mano  (PNG)

 

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NEW YEAR HONOURS 2008

KNIGHTS BACHELOR

 

Sir John Ashworth
Professor Sir John Bell
Sir John Good CBE
Sir Patrick Haren
The Hon Sir Michael Harris
Professor Sir Roger Jowell CBE
Sir Nicholas Kenyon CBE
Sir Alasdair Macdonald CBE
Professor Sir Alexander (Alex) Markham
Sir Ian McAllister CBE
Sir Robert Naylor
Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea
Sir Michael Parkinson CBE
Professor Sir Bruce Ponder
Sir Stuart Rose
Sir James Sassoon
Professor Sir John Savill
Sir John Sorrell CBE
Alderman Sir John Stuttard
Professor Sir Brian Vickers
Professor Sir Ian Wilmut OBE

 

OVERSEAS

(Dr) Sir Cecil Graham – Barbados

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QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 2007

KNIGHTS BACHELOR

 

Sir John Baker, CBE

Professor Sir Christopher Bayly

Sir Ian Botham, OBE

Sir Rodney Brooke, CBE, DL

Sir Steve Bullock

Sir Bill Callaghan, JP

Sir Peter Carr, CBE, DL

Professor Sir George Castledine

Professor Sir Peter Cook, RA, RIBA

Sir Charles Gray, CBE, JP

Sir John Hegarty

Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, CBE

Sir Paul Scott-Lee, QPM, DL

Professor Sir David Melville, CBE

Sir Torquil Norman, CBE

Professor Sir David Read, FRS

Sir Meuric Rees, CBE

Sir James Rose, CBE

Sir Norman Rosenthal

Sir Salman Rushdie

Sir Malcolm Williamson, FCIB

 

OVERSEAS LIST

 

Sir Ramon Richard Thurecht, OBE

( Papua New Guinea )

 

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NEW YEAR HONOURS 2007

 

Sir Keith Ajegbo

Sir Ian Andrews, CBE TD

Sir Geoffrey Bindman

Sir John Bradfield, CBE PhD

Alderman Sir David Brewer, CMG JP

Sir Robert Crawford, CBE

Professor Sir Howard Dalton

Professor Sir Gordon Duff

Sir James Dyson, CBE

Professor Sir Malcolm Green, DM FRCP

Sir Philip Hampton

Sir Michael Holroyd, CBE

Sir Ken Macdonald, QC

Sir Bert Massie, CBE

Sir David Murray

The Hon Sir Stephen Oliver, QC

Professor Sir John O'Reilly, PhD

Sir Michael Rake

Professor Sir Peter Scott

Sir George Shearing, OBE

Sir Kevin Smith, CBE

Professor Sir John Tooke, DM FRCP

 

OVERSEAS LIST

 

Sir Desmond de Silva, QC

Sir Geoffrey Nice, QC

Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart, FRS

 

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