page_title: 1998 New Year Honours
section_title: Companions of Honour
hierarchical_section_title: 1998 New Year Honours / United Kingdom / Companions of Honour
caption_attribution_description: Eigen tekening Robert Prummel
context_page_description: The New Year Honours 1998 for the United Kingdom, Barbados, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Christopher and Nevis were announced on 30 December 1997, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 1998. The New Year Honours for New Zealand were announced on 31 December 1997.
  The Honours list is a list of people who have been awarded one of the various orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom. Honours are split into classes and are graded to distinguish different degrees of achievement or service, most medals are not graded. The awards are presented to the recipient in one of several investiture ceremonies at Buckingham Palace throughout the year by the Sovereign or her designated representative. The Prince of Wales and The Princess Royal have deputised for The Queen.
  In the United Kingdom, the orders, medals and decorations are awarded by various honours committees which meet to discuss candidates identified by public or private bodies, by government departments or who are nominated by members of the public.
context_section_description: The Order of the Companions of Honour was founded by King George V in June 1917, as a reward for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry, or religion.
  Professor Eric John Ernest Hobsbawm, Emeritus Professor of Economic and Social History, University of London. For services to History.
  The Right Honourable Christopher Francis Patten, former Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Hong Kong. For public service.
caption: Riband and badge of the Companions of Honour
exif: {}