www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16364580

A former gang member related to a schoolboy's killers is among the London figures listed in the New Year Honours.

Chris Preddie, 24, is appointed OBE for his youth work, having abandoned drug-dealing and turned his life around after his brother was shot dead.

He said he "never knew" his cousins Danny and Ricky, who stabbed Damilola Taylor in Peckham, south London.

Former Lord Mayor Michael Bear is awarded a knighthood, as is Olympic Delivery Authority chair John Armitt.

A stonemason at St Paul's Cathedral, the founder of a puppet theatre company and a pharmacist are also honoured.

Mr Preddie said he "made a choice" to take his life in a different direction to that of his cousins, who were jailed for eight years in 2006.

He joined a Crimestoppers scheme aimed at cutting youth violence in south London after his brother Andrew "got shot four days after my 16th birthday", he said.

"I realised it could be my life," he added.

However, Damilola's father, Richard Taylor, said he did not think an honour should be given "to the cousin of the killers of my son".


This country gets more medieval day by day. Now we are institutionalising a form of Catholic indulgences - the system whose backwardness was so apparent even to the peasents of the late middle-ages, that the power of Rome was ended in nearly half of Europe.

How far we are regressing to have fallen even below that of the medieval mind.

I wonder what lesson this thug is 'teaching' youngsters? That you can be as violent and neanderthal as you like as a youngster, so long as when you've had your fill of fun and decided to 'grow up' you use your get-out-of-purgatory card by denouncing crime and all of a sudden you're a free and righteous citizen again, fit to lecture others?

You come across this type of individual a lot in forums, especially (real) sex offenders. No matter how many lives they've destroyed, the fact that they are suddenly 'changed' and 'seen the light' (emerged from their re-education camp) gives them the right to moralize upon others - a kind of holy superiority over the ordinary man (in their disturbed minds). Any real remorse or ability to see what they are is usually impossible to detect. It's literally a get out of jail card for them. Quite chilling in my opinion.

Blackit wrote:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16364580

A former gang member related to a schoolboy's killers is among the London figures listed in the New Year Honours.

Chris Preddie, 24, is appointed OBE for his youth work, having abandoned drug-dealing and turned his life around after his brother was shot dead.

He said he "never knew" his cousins Danny and Ricky, who stabbed Damilola Taylor in Peckham, south London.

Former Lord Mayor Michael Bear is awarded a knighthood, as is Olympic Delivery Authority chair John Armitt.

A stonemason at St Paul's Cathedral, the founder of a puppet theatre company and a pharmacist are also honoured.

Mr Preddie said he "made a choice" to take his life in a different direction to that of his cousins, who were jailed for eight years in 2006.

He joined a Crimestoppers scheme aimed at cutting youth violence in south London after his brother Andrew "got shot four days after my 16th birthday", he said.

"I realised it could be my life," he added.

However, Damilola's father, Richard Taylor, said he did not think an honour should be given "to the cousin of the killers of my son".


This country gets more medieval day by day. Now we are institutionalising a form of Catholic indulgences - the system whose backwardness was so apparent even to the peasents of the late middle-ages, that the power of Rome was ended in nearly half of Europe.

How far we are regressing to have fallen even below that of the medieval mind.

I wonder what lesson this thug is 'teaching' youngsters? That you can be as violent and neanderthal as you like as a youngster, so long as when you've had your fill of fun and decided to 'grow up' you use your get-out-of-purgatory card by denouncing crime and all of a sudden you're a free and righteous citizen again, fit to lecture others?

You come across this type of individual a lot in forums, especially (real) sex offenders. No matter how many lives they've destroyed, the fact that they are suddenly 'changed' and 'seen the light' (emerged from their re-education camp) gives them the right to moralize upon others - a kind of holy superiority over the ordinary man (in their disturbed minds). Any real remorse or ability to see what they are is usually impossible to detect. It's literally a get out of jail card for them. Quite chilling in my opinion.

Good luck to the kid. He's proof that even the ones who are from the wrong side of the tracks can make good. The fact that he's an inspiration to his peers has resonance. Your angle on this sounds all too negatively familiar and the fact you bring sex offenders into it only reinforces my point. Live and let live I say.

I can't comment on that case as I know little of it.

there is a case for being suspect of 'reformed' people but I don't hold anyone's past against them especially a criminal record.

Surely everyone should be entitled to start afresh and if they prove themselves why not 'reward' them in some manner?

There are hysterical claims that so-called sex offenders cannot change and have 'lost their rights' and so on. No proof is every offered and in fact , as every stastistic now shows that 95% of abuse is perpetuated by a family member I'd say that those instances are more about power and control and because it is a family member-the perp would probably never get the opportunity again.

The people I find most suspect are the 'child protection' campaigners who are highly suspect and their motives should be examined. They do little to solve abuse and I believe they perpetuate it.

Just so we're clear, do I read your summation correctly? It appears to be this:

"Sex offenders never reform {and neither do any other types of criminal, it seems from your opening comments}. And if they appear to do so it's because they are practiced and accomplished liars".

This sounds like the warped, vengeful stuff we get out of the tabloid press all the time to me.

angel wrote:
Blackit wrote:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16364580

A former gang member related to a schoolboy's killers is among the London figures listed in the New Year Honours.

Chris Preddie, 24, is appointed OBE for his youth work, having abandoned drug-dealing and turned his life around after his brother was shot dead.

He said he "never knew" his cousins Danny and Ricky, who stabbed Damilola Taylor in Peckham, south London.

Former Lord Mayor Michael Bear is awarded a knighthood, as is Olympic Delivery Authority chair John Armitt.

A stonemason at St Paul's Cathedral, the founder of a puppet theatre company and a pharmacist are also honoured.

Mr Preddie said he "made a choice" to take his life in a different direction to that of his cousins, who were jailed for eight years in 2006.

He joined a Crimestoppers scheme aimed at cutting youth violence in south London after his brother Andrew "got shot four days after my 16th birthday", he said.

"I realised it could be my life," he added.

However, Damilola's father, Richard Taylor, said he did not think an honour should be given "to the cousin of the killers of my son".


This country gets more medieval day by day. Now we are institutionalising a form of Catholic indulgences - the system whose backwardness was so apparent even to the peasents of the late middle-ages, that the power of Rome was ended in nearly half of Europe.

How far we are regressing to have fallen even below that of the medieval mind.

I wonder what lesson this thug is 'teaching' youngsters? That you can be as violent and neanderthal as you like as a youngster, so long as when you've had your fill of fun and decided to 'grow up' you use your get-out-of-purgatory card by denouncing crime and all of a sudden you're a free and righteous citizen again, fit to lecture others?

You come across this type of individual a lot in forums, especially (real) sex offenders. No matter how many lives they've destroyed, the fact that they are suddenly 'changed' and 'seen the light' (emerged from their re-education camp) gives them the right to moralize upon others - a kind of holy superiority over the ordinary man (in their disturbed minds). Any real remorse or ability to see what they are is usually impossible to detect. It's literally a get out of jail card for them. Quite chilling in my opinion.

Good luck to the kid. He's proof that even the ones who are from the wrong side of the tracks can make good. The fact that he's an inspiration to his peers has resonance. Your angle on this sounds all too negatively familiar and the fact you bring sex offenders into it only reinforces my point. Live and let live I say.

Totally agree,and as it appears in the press Mr Taylor is annoyed because he's related to those who killed his son.You have no choice in biology.

Innocent Accused wrote:


Totally agree,and as it appears in the press Mr Taylor is annoyed because he's related to those who killed his son.You have no choice in biology.

Absolutely right. I recall someone here talking recently about being an "active campaigner" for something or another. Strikes me that if Mr. Preddie has got his back into something as worthwhile as this, then that someone really should take a more sympathetic viewpoint than, evidently, he does.

Still. What do I know?

I hate the Honours all pathetic titles apart from a Duke great start for naming a pub how about arise Duke JK ?

Locked Out wrote:
Innocent Accused wrote:


Totally agree,and as it appears in the press Mr Taylor is annoyed because he's related to those who killed his son.You have no choice in biology.

Absolutely right. I recall someone here talking recently about being an "active campaigner" for something or another. Strikes me that if Mr. Preddie has got his back into something as worthwhile as this, then that someone really should take a more sympathetic viewpoint than, evidently, he does.

Still. What do I know?

Yes Lo...what do you know? And more to the point,what do I know?

Happy new year to ye sir

Oh yae,ye is right