Séamas O'Reilly: Britain's honours system - and the stench of mould

"Every time such egregious acts of cronyism are committed, there is a mild uproar. But nothing is done, changed, or amended out of some sense that the system currently in place is there for good or ill."

Founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, who has been made a Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honours list, for services to hospitality and to culture.

I used to live in a flat with black mould. It was fairly contained on a wall near one hall, behind some coats and old rucksacks. 

My wife and I weren’t delighted about it. We complained about it frequently. It was ugly and embarrassing, and when visitors came we’d make a point of lamenting its presence loudly. “Oh, that?” we’d say, “God, it’s awful, we hate it”.