CONGRATULATIONS to Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, for his award of an MBE for services to journalism. I think your readers will agree this is well deserved.

I think it is only right that such honours are given to people who have plied their trade over the years and proved they are pillars of society.

I think some people, especially sportsmen, have been given honours too quickly, such as Bradley Wiggins and Chris Hoy. I think they need a few more miles on their clocks to prove themselves worthy of such a prestigious award.

I’m sorry to bring up England’s World Cup fiasco again but just imagine if they’d performed beyond our dreams and were given the ultimate award by the Queen. The thought of Sir Wayne Rooney and Lady Colleen would have forced me to leave the country in protest.

Eric Schofield, Crook.