GOOD Lefties often criticise the Honours System as an anachronism – and to be sure there are ways in which this is true. The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, for example, has overtones of Monty Python. Even its equally silly Latin motto, Nemo me impune lacessit (“No one provokes me with impunity”) hardly echoes the Christian principle of turning the other cheek.

However, as with many traditions, those who would drain the bathwater run the risk of throwing the baby out as well. After all, we should find more ways – not fewer – to recognise contributions made by members of our society.

In stereotype, the Americans show appreciation with money; this is sad because money is in limited supply, and it is difficult to reward someone without robbing someone else. Indeed, the worst criticism of the current honours system is that too many people get recognition on top of wealth, including those dubbed ‘Tony’s Cronies’ in Labour’s Cash-for-Honours scandal ten years ago.

But in Bridport, we should be nominating our wonderful citizens, as opposed to those who are merely well-heeled. The process is simple enough: there is a form on-line and you should merely gather a few letters of support.

Let us kick it off with Robert Ridge, who is a hero of mine. A plumber by trade, Robert is 44 years old going on fourteen, with a teenager’s passion for BMX bikes. He started the Trick Factory many years ago, and has since invested thousands of pounds of his own money to build the best ramps and the jumps in the Southwest. He spends five evenings a week providing a venue for young people to burn off their excess energy, a safe haven hemmed in by the local bus and police stations. By my roughest of estimates, Robert must have spent 20,000 hours or more inspiring and helping our youth. In return he expects … nothing.

But we should give him something, even if it is only a bauble. So please send a letter of support for him to me at clive@reprieve.org.uk, and then nominate your own local hero for national recognition.