Congratulations are in order for many of the almost 1,000 people awarded honours in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Most of the people mentioned in the Echo (June 13), were deserving of their awards for the magnificent work undertaken for charities, communities and the disadvantaged, mainly in a voluntary capacity.

However there were also many actors, sportsmen and women, businessmen and others who appear to have been awarded various honours merely for doing their jobs.

A dinner lady was given an award and I can only presume that she performed over and above what was expected of her. Even the lady herself was baffled to be receiving her award.

I believe the award system has become flawed.

I am all in favour of recognition being given to the people who give their time, energy and often their own money to the charities and other worthy causes, but to give awards to people just doing their jobs doesn’t seem appropriate to me.

John Dickens
Eastwoodbury Crescent
Southend