Save it for a rainy day? Alternative uses for umbrellas

While we often forget our umbrellas when we need them the most, they can also come in handy for a range of unsuspecting purposes. Umbrellas are versatile, and you could get more use out of your trusty rain shelter than you first thought with some handy tips in this guide. Let’s take a look at some clever brolly innovations!

Art installations
Back in 2017, the Coppergate Shopping Centre in York gave shoppers shelter from the rain beneath an array of suspended umbrellas, a vibrant display which made visitors smile come rain or come shine. It was a slightly tongue-in-cheek instalment, after the centre had previously fitted a beach area, complete with deckchairs and a sandpit, to celebrate a hot summer in the same year. However, the rain soon returned, and the success of the beach was short lived; so the street became a canvas for what was named the ‘Brollywalk’, and many passers-by stopped to admire the eclectic tribute to the classic British summer. In this way, umbrellas became a cheerful, artistic take on the impromptu-showers that we all know and love (when we’ve got an umbrella with us, of course!). Umbrellas come in a whole host of colours and prints, and they can make for quirky centerpieces or event decorations, so why not opt for something a bit different!

Parasoleil UV Spotty Rose
Parasoleil UV Spotty Rose

Sun shields
When the forecast heats up, us Brits all change into our summer wardrobes and leave the umbrella at home in favour of a trendy pair of sunglasses. However, consider packing your umbrella when the temperature hits double figures, as the intensity of the sun can require some shelter. An umbrella provides a portable escape from the sun and shade from the harsh rays. Take the Parasoleil UV Spotty Rose umbrella we’ve developed for example, with a UPF 50+ label, you’ll be protected from up to 99% of UV rays!

Umbrella kite
Umbrella kite

Kites
Did you know that you could make the perfect afternoon pastime from an old umbrella? With a bit of adjustment, an old umbrella could become a kite! Repurpose it by manipulating the wire frame or adding some wooden rods to create a kite shape. Then, use a ball of string and a makeshift handle to complete your invention, and enjoy the challenge of making it fly. Autumn and winter are the best seasons for trying this out, as it tends to be windier which makes for optimum kite flying conditions!

Met Gala
Met Gala

Fashion statements
Umbrellas come in a whole host of prints and colours, allowing people to express their individual styles in a unique way. Whether you keep it sleek and co-ordinate your prints or colours, or you choose to brave a bold contrast, an umbrella can make for a trendy addition to everyday attire. For some star-studded inspiration look at Lady Gaga’s recent Met Gala outfit choices, one of which included a black umbrella to match her extravagant dress. Her entourage of dancers also held umbrellas around her, making her appearance on the iconic Met Gala stairs an impressive spectacle.
So, which one will you try out? Remember, you don’t have to save your umbrella for a rainy day!

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019 Roundup

Chelsea Flower Show
Chelsea Flower Show

Last week saw another spectacular year of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, where blossoms were blooming, and creativity was flowing across all the miraculous exhibitions on display. Hosted in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of retired British Army soldiers, the event brings in around 157,000 visitors each year and never fails to impress locals, tourists and of course – the Royals.

UPF 50+ Parasoleil UV
UPF 50+ Parasoleil UV

Last year we saw a plethora of emerging trends, but what made 2019 so special? Aside from the gleaming sun, where our UPF 50+ Parasoleil UV Spotty Rose would have certainly came in handy and will do in the coming summer months, protecting you from 99% of the sun’s UV rays, there is a lot to recap on!

The Duchess’ Debut
You may have seen some photographs circulating the media recently of the Cambridge’s pondering in a stunning garden. Did you know that this was designed specifically for the week-long extravaganza? With the help of Andrée Davies and Adam White, the Duchess of Cambridge co-designed the RHS Back to Nature Garden and was very hands on during the process. She even received some help from George, Charlotte and Louis!

As this was a Feature Garden, it wasn’t in with a chance of winning any awards. However, that didn’t matter as Prince George told his father, Prince William, that he would score the garden ’20 out of 10’ which is a huge complement from our future King!

Plant of the Year
You may be familiar with the Plant of the Year Award at the Chelsea Flower Show, and this year’s winner was very impressive. Out of 20 contenders, the Sedum Atlantis took first place. The award was announced in the Great Pavilion, where all 20 plants were on display.

But what makes the Sedum Atlantis so special? Well, it’s extremely low maintenance which is one bonus — meaning it never fails to look good. As a hardy stonecrop, the plant itself is drought tolerant and is easy to grow. From June to September, it forms 30cm high cushions of variegate foliage topped with yellow flowers. As well as this, they’re extremely attractive to pollinators!

BBC People’s Choice Award

For the second year running, Mark Gregroy copped the BBC People’s Choice Award for his Welcome to Yorkshire Garden. The display itself was his 99th garden and also won him a Gold medal and hosted some famous faces — including Dame Joan Collins and Dame Judi Dench. However, one of the best complements he received was from Hollywood A-Lister, Stanley Tucci, who described it as stepping into another world.

Gregory commented: “I want to thank everyone that voted for us, I couldn’t be happier. It’s such an honour to receive this accolade again and to have been able to share the place I call home with the world is a privilege. It seems that people love Yorkshire as much as I do!”

Best Show Garden Award

Everyone wants to win the Best Show Garden, there’s no doubt about it. However, judges called Andy Sturgeon’s M&G Garden ‘perfection’ when naming him this winner. The woodland landscape embodied a naturalistic sensation and lavish planting definitely impressed visitors. One area of the garden that must be mentioned is the burnt oak timber, which was definitely a focal point!

Believe it or not, this is Sturgeon’s eighth Gold win — but what was his mission behind this particular design? Speaking on the creation previously, he said: “I want visitors to think “wow!” when they first see it, then be drawn into the detail and engage with it – to look closely at individual plants and the water in the garden. In fact, they could recreate our use of waterspouts at home, using just one to have water falling into a small pool,”

Those were some of this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show highlights, and we can’t wait to celebrate the next in 2020. With summer finally here, it’s time to pay more attention to our beautiful gardens and create an immersive experience that everyone can enjoy!

Meaning Behind The Words: Other Terms Used For Umbrellas

We’re not sure whether you’ve noticed, but our team love umbrellas. We simply can’t get enough of them and surprisingly, we all have our own little names for them. Although this is something that is common from region to region, it’s important for us all to understand the actual meaning behind them and how they came to become part of our ever-evolving vocabulary.

Funny umbrellas
Funny umbrellas

We take a look at some of the common names used for umbrellas, how many have you heard of?

Bumbershoot
This may be one word that you’re not as familiar with, as it was thought to originate in the United States. Although surprisingly, many Americans assume that the word is British slang. As you can probably imagine, it is used as quite a playful term for umbrella and apparently dates back to the late 1890s.

It’s not entirely clear how the word came to be, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make some assumptions. It sounds like the “bumber” part of the word is a derivative of “umbr” and the “shoot” is similar to the “-chute” part of the word in a parachute which does make a little bit of sense!

Gamp
A Gamp is essentially a large umbrella, but this word is thought to have made its debut in 1855. The word derives from Charles Dicken’s Martin Chuzzlewit novel (1843-44) which featured a character called Sarah Gamp who often carried a large cotton umbrella. Her companion, which endured many adventures was described as: “in colour like a faded leaf, except where a circular patch of a lively blue had been dexterously let in at the top”.

From this, people began calling the umbrella a Gamp! Although the word isn’t commonly used now, it still remains featured in most dictionaries.

Brolly
The origin of brolly is an alteration of (um)brell(a) dating back to around 1870-1875. This word is one that we commonly use today, with many brands even marketing the product as this. Although the term stems from the extracted ‘brell’, this is thought to have changed over time as language develops.

“Brelly” has slowly become “brolly”, likely as a result of accents and regional differences. Regional accents are known to have been significantly different around this time and were a lot sterner — something which has watered down with increased travel opportunities and media influence. So much so, that the North/South regional differences were intense enough to cause word change.

It’s clear that nicknames for the umbrella have changed over time — we’ve lost old ones and gained new ones, but that’s all part of linguistic development. However, the questions we want answered is why haven’t we started calling our windproof umbrellas a Hagrid or our ladies umbrellas a Poppins? Now that would be awesome.

Superstitions We All Still Believe

For generations, we’ve believed countless superstitions that have shifted the narrative of how we live our lives on a day-to-day basis. Many of these have been passed down from our ancestors and although some are more ridiculous than others, our wariness towards them remains unshaken.

Here at Fulton Umbrellas, we have collated a list of some of the most common superstitions that many of us have grown up to believe. In this article, we take a look at what they actually mean and where they came from!

Popular superstitions
Popular superstitions

Umbrellas
One of the most popular superstitions in our office was of course the thought of opening an umbrella indoors resulting in bad luck. Legend has it that the superstition comes from ancient Egypt where the first brolly originated from. Stemming from the Latin root word ‘umbra’, which means shade or shadow, umbrellas were used to protect the most noble figures in society from the bright sun rays.

With this in mind, many Egyptians believed that opening an umbrella indoors, away from the sun, would be disrespectful and anger the sun gods. From this, the sun god would then take out his anger on everyone in the home that the umbrella had been opened!

 

Broken mirror
Broken mirror

Mirrors
Everyone’s heard of the superstition that if you break a mirror, you’ll end up with seven years bad luck. But where did it come from?

This superstition is said to date back thousands of years. Some say that it originates from when humans first used the water to see their reflections. It was around this time when people believed that the image in the water was actually their soul. They thought that any disruption to the water (and their reflection) would mean that harm would come to them as well.

Another origin of the mirror superstition stems from ancient myths. One tale suggests that mirrors are a force of magic, with the ability to see into the future. It was thought that if the actual mirror was smashed or destroyed, the powers would be terminated and the person whose reflection was last in the mirror would experience a future of misfortune…
But where did the seven years’ time frame come from? This part of the superstition was added to by the Romans. It was believed by them that life renewed itself after seven years. They believed that if a poorly person looked into a mirror, their image would break the mirror and bad luck would continue until their life was renewed.

Salt
Salt

Salt over the shoulder
Many of us have heard of the superstitions to do with salt. Spilling salt is bad luck but throwing it over your left shoulder can reverse it. But, what is it about salt that makes it bad luck?

This superstition was present in the famous da Vinci painting of The Last Supper! In the painting, you can see that Judas has knocked over the salt with his elbow, representing his betrayal of Jesus. The superstition may also come from the value of the commodity in ancient times. It used to be a very expensive product, and even used as currency in some civilizations. Therefore, spilling salt was considered very foolish!

There is another religious connotation that lies with throwing the salt over the left side to reverse the luck. This is because Christians believe that the devil is behind your left shoulder, therefore you are essentially throwing it into his face and blinding him.

Avoid walking beneath a ladder
Avoid walking beneath a ladder

Walking under ladders
Even now many of us would avoid walking beneath a ladder! And, it’s not just because of the health and safety risks, a lot of people think that it will bring them bad luck. Where did this superstition originate from?

Similar to the other age-old superstitions, this one also stems from ancient Egypt. Have you noticed that a ladder leaning against a wall forms a triangle shape? It was this shape that Egyptians regarded as sacred, take their pyramids for example. To walk through a triangle was therefore said to insult the gods!

Crossing knives
When you’re getting the cutlery out of the drawer to set the table, you might have heard your grandma tell you not to cross the knives. It’s bad luck she might say! But where does this superstition come from?

It is thought that it comes from the cross shape that is created when two knives are placed on top of each other. This is then said to invite crossed and misfortune into your own life. Some people even some believe that crossing knives on a table will lead to an argument. It can be avoided though, quickly uncross the knives to break the curse.

So, what superstitions do you believe? Do you think there is any truth to these old tales?

Top 3 Rainiest Cities In Europe | Fulton Umbrellas

You may have settled back into the work-life routine, but that’s not to say that it shouldn’t be unsettled with a little European getaway. You deserve it — you’ve survived the hardest two months back in the office after a delightful period away spending time with your family and friends.

With many European destinations just a short flight away from almost any major city in the UK, we take a look at some of the locations that you should be packing your birdcage umbrella for and why a little downfall shouldn’t put you off a visit. These cities have much more to offer so don’t rule them out!

1. Podgorica, Montenegro

Although Podgorica might not be the first thought on your mind when thinking of booking up, the mountainous city offers a mixture of modern and historic culture which is perfect for anyone looking for an adventure this year.

However, you should definitely be packing your umbrella on this trip. This destination is noted to be the rainiest city in Europe with an average 65.4 inches of water landing each year; but don’t let that put you off! The city prides itself on the beautiful Morača River and its modern Millennium Bridge, as well as the Ribnica River which is home to the stone bridge. While you’re there, take a trip to the historic pilgrimage site Ostrog Monastery and Independence Square which is the sociocultural hub of the city!

The picturesque landscape also includes Lake Skadar where tourists can carry out bird watching, fishing, and hunting activities. If you’re looking for something more exhilarating, you could rent a boat and take a swim in the waters.

2. Ljubljana, Slovenia

We get it, you’ve always thought about visiting Slovenia. But did you know its capital is the second rainiest city in Europe? Ljubljana is reported to have an average rainfall of around 53.9 inches per year. The city itself however, is known for both its old town and commercial hub which covers all the wants and needs for any traveller.

There’s so much that can be done in this city, and it’s known to be a hit with young people (especially students). The curving Ljubljanica River makes for the perfect Instagram selfie spot too, and a boat ride trip should be arranged in advance to make sure you get all the right shots.

While you’re around, make sure you take a trip to the Ljubljana Castle which one of the main tourist attractions of this city and stands on Castle Hill. Other things to do in Ljubljana include Tivoli City Park, the city zoo, central market and one of the historic cathedrals and churches.

After a long day of exploring, there are plenty of quaint and quirky cafes, fine dining restaurants bars that you can let loose in. Head to Prešeren Square for all of the action!

3. Tirana, Albania

Tirana
Tirana

Albania is reportedly becoming a more popular holiday destination for Brits, but did you know its capital Tirana is the third rainiest city in Europe? With an average downpour of 48.0 inches each year, you shouldn’t let a little drizzle put you offer a visit to this upcoming city.

If you and your travel companion appreciate exquisite architecture, this Ottoman-, Fascist- and Soviet-era building work will definitely impress. If you’re a lover of history, this city is full of it. The National History Museum offers an insight to prehistoric times through Communist rule and anti-Communist uprising in the 1900s while the National Arts Gallery presents some of the finest artwork in a timeless exhibition.

Take your trip to new heights with a visit to the Dajti mountain and national park. You’ll be able to enjoy a cable car ride and take in the great surroundings of the area. When it comes to dining, you’re truly spoilt for choice with plenty of local cuisine to try out!

World Book Day: Top 5 Literary Characters | Fulton Umbrellas

World Book Day
World Book Day

7th March marks the annual celebration of and the team here at Fulton Umbrellas couldn’t be more excited. Whether you’re celebrating at school or in the office like us, nothing feels more exhilarating than revisiting some of our favourite books and channelling the looks of the most iconic literary characters.

We take a look at some of our favourite characters — see if you can spot the running theme…

1. Rubeus Hagrid

Hagrid has become a household name around the world after appearing in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter book series. According to the author, the character was one of the first to be created and stated that the name come from an old English word that meant ‘you’d have a bad night’. This was well associated with this particular character because he was a big drinker and experienced a lot of regrettable nights!

In the book, Hagrid was forbidden to use magic after his expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Ministry of Magic broke his wand as a result. However, Hagrid kept the broken pieces inside of his pink umbrella and performed small spells from time to time — such as giving Dudley Dursley a pig’s tail and opening up Diagon Alley!

2. Mr Tumnus

Everyone who has ever read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis loves Mr Tumnus. This character was first introduced to the literary world back in 1950 and was actually responsible for the entire book series. The author admitted that a picture of a Faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy wood had been in his mind since the age of 16.

However, it wasn’t until CS Lewis was in his 40s where he decided to develop the world and create this story we all know and love. And how awesome is it that a best-selling book idea came from an umbrella?

3. John Darling

Quintessentially the most British literary character of them all, John Darling from J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan is kind of friend we want in our group. What makes this character stand out from the crowd is his witty one-liners, over-the-top reactions, and of course, his Neverland attire — don’t judge him, it was late at night when they travelled second star to the right and straight on till morning.

His Neverland attire included his pyjamas, top hat, and his umbrella (as he could never bring himself to leave without such items)! We’re beginning to spot a trend with some of our favourite characters here…

4. Mary Poppins

P.L. Travers brought us the joy of Mary Poppins and the Banks family. Countless books and two films later, this is one story that has truly merged itself with British culture. The character, who was blown into our lives by the East wind, accepts a nanny job to look after the children at Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane in London until the wind changes.

With a magical touch to her presence, the children experience a tea party on a ceiling with Mr. Wigg, a trip around the world with a compass, the purchase of gingerbread stars from Mrs. Corry, meeting the Bird Woman, a visit to the zoo, and more. However, then the wind changes, she opens up her umbrella and the West wind carries her away! Next time she should bring her windproof umbrella

5. Christopher Robin

One thing we admire about British literature is the friendship that blossomed between Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin in the world created by A.A. Milne. Christopher Robin is one character that often takes an umbrella with him when out and about and even uses it in the first story — to deceive some bees!

As well as this, him and Pooh set sail in an umbrella named the ‘Brain of Pooh’ when Piglet, another fascinating character in this world, is surrounded by water!

How Innovative Designs Have Improved Traditional Products

Technology and innovative design is constantly influencing the customer market — with brands releasing updated versions of the same product that we all feel inclined to buy. However, this isn’t just happening with modern inventions, but with traditional products too.

The end-goal for many businesses and creators is to streamline a product’s use for the end-user. With this, many of the everyday items we all love have been altered in one way or another to keep up with the requirements we now have as a society.

We’ve set our standards high, and no product is untouchable. Here, we take a look at some of the products that have been influenced by technology or design and how they have changed our lives.

Watches
Watches

Watches
Watches have truly transformed the way we lead our lives. Modern Britain revolves around time — from making sure our little ones arrive at school on time to catching the right bus for work. The history of the watch dates right back to the 16th century, where the devices were originally powered by a mainspring which turned gears to move the hands while keeping in time with a rotating balance wheel.

It wasn’t until the 1960s that the quartz watch was invented, where the product actually used electricity to operate. This type of watch took over the market at the time, which many still refer to as the ‘quartz crisis’ as mechanical watches were pushed aside. Following this, the quartz wristwatch was developed, and we haven’t look back since. Well, until now.

Smartwatches have taken over the world. You can’t walk by someone without one attached to their wrist. What once was an item that would only notify you of the time, can now make phone calls, send messages, track your health and more. What’s next for the watch?

Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt

Umbrellas
The umbrella has changed tremendously over the years. Making its debut in Ancient Egypt, they were used for protection against direct sunlight. However, the waterproofed version was created in the 11th century BC using leather, an extremely expensive material to use at the time which was later adopted across the European continent — predominately in Greece and Rome.

The umbrella fell absent for over 1,000 years after the Roman Empire dissolved but became popular again in the 16th century. Traditionally, umbrellas were quite detailed in their design and were more of a ‘prop’ during this period.

That’s not to say that umbrellas today can’t be a fashion statement though. Queen Elizabeth II, for example, uses a birdcage umbrella when making public appearances. This innovative design allows her to stay dry but remain completely visible when venturing outdoors, as the cover is transparent! With her bespoke umbrellas, she always matches her trim with her outfit. As well as this, unlike umbrellas years ago, many are now designed to be more compact and can be stored away in your bag.

Birdcage Umbrella
Birdcage Umbrella

Wallpaper
You wouldn’t think that there’d be any sort of progression with wallpaper, but what the future holds sounds quite exciting. Historically, wallpaper would be created using hand-painting, woodblock printing, stenciling and other types of machine printing — which dates back before 1700.

Wallpaper
Wallpaper

This form of design was so popular that in 1712, Queen Anne introduced a wallpaper tax which wasn’t abolished until 1836. This was likely because Britain was the leading wallpaper manufacturer in Europe at the time.

Wallpaper
Wallpaper

The future only looks bright for wallpaper though. At one time, we’d just be complacent with a nice design for the interior of our home, but developments have suggested that we should expect high-tech forms sometime soon. This will have the ability to block signals — no more stealing your neighbour’s WiFi!

Bank cards
Although we all know that money is an everyday essential, bank cards never used to be. Before the first bank cards were issued in 1967, people had to actually visit their bank to deposit or withdraw any cash. People could store money in their home, but this wouldn’t be protected!

First Bank Cards
First Bank Cards

It wasn’t until 1972 where the first bank card to feature an information-encoding magnetic strip was introduced. This allowed customers to visit an ATM and enter their personal identification number to gain access to the information that was associated with their account.

Contactless payments
Contactless payments

Today, it’s the introduction of contactless payments that has made the biggest impact on the shopping and banking scene. Recently adopted by banking associations and introduced across the high-street, the cards using radio-frequency identification can now make payments without the need to enter a pin.

These were just some of the advancements, but what does the future hold?

FULTON UMBRELLAS RECEIVES FEEFO GOLD TRUSTED SERVICE AWARD 2019

Feefo Gold Service award
Feefo Gold Service award

30 JANUARY 2019, A Fulton Company Limited has won the Feefo Gold Service award, an independent seal of excellence that recognises businesses for delivering exceptional experiences, as rated by real customers.

Thanks to all of our customers for sharing their ratings and reviews!

Created by Feefo, Trusted Service is awarded only to those businesses that use Feefo to collect genuine reviews and insights. Those that meet the high standard, based on the number of reviews they have collected, and their average rating, receive the award. A badge of honour, this accreditation remains unique, as it is based purely on the interactions with real customers. As all reviews are verified as genuine, the accreditation is a true reflection of a business’ commitment to outstanding service.

Feefo is a reviews and customer insights technology company that provides businesses with the tools to collect real, purchase-verified reviews and insights. Working with over 3,500 clients, Feefo ensures that all feedback is authentic, by matching it to a legitimate transaction, in order to increase consumer confidence and enable businesses to make smarter business decisions.

https://www.fultonumbrellas.com/reviews/

National Umbrella Day: The History | Fulton Umbrellas

Umbrella Sky Project
Umbrella Sky Project

Our brolly is by far our most trusted companion. Wind, rain, or snow, we can always rely on this little gadget to guide us through the harsher weather conditions here in the UK. It’s the 10th February and our team couldn’t be more excited to celebrate National Umbrella Day, so here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about this product that was invented thousands of years ago.

The Birth
The term ‘umbrella’ stems from the Latin root word ‘umbra’ which means shade or shadow. In ancient Egypt, that’s exactly what the first parasol was created for. By living in a hotter climate, Egyptian nobility and royalty thought that it would be wise to protect themselves from direct sunlight — they also had a fascination of having pale skin and a parasol helped this.

As the Egyptians had no reason to design a waterproof umbrella, this was created in China in the 11th century BC using leather. As this was an expensive material at the time, only the most affluent members of society used them.

Greece and Rome soon adopted the non-waterproofed Egyptian styled parasol which acted exclusively as a ladies umbrella.

The Fall
To give a balanced standpoint on history, we should touch on the fall too! After the descent of the Roman Empire, the umbrella became absent in Europe for 1,000 years. The shift in lifestyle and lack of technological innovation was one of the biggest factors that played into this — and ultimately, people couldn’t afford to have such luxuries during this period.

The Resurrection
Umbrellas became popular again in the late 16th century across Europe. This was a direct result of the start of the Renaissance in Italy, where many paintings were influenced by the tales of Asia where many women used parasols. The difference was, there were now more suitable routes to trade the product!

It was still thought to be a female accessory, up until the 18th century. However, Jonas Hanway, a writer and traveller, switched things up when he carried and used an umbrella publicly in England for most of his life. Englishmen soon caught on to the trend and often called their umbrella their ‘Hanway’.

The umbrella has continued to live on since then and has become an integral part of modern culture. From making moves on the catwalk to featuring in some of our favourite pieces of art, movies and even music videos.

Today, we rely on our umbrellas to protect us from the unpredictable weather! Do you have any funny umbrella stories or memories? Let us know on Twitter @FultonUmbrella!

Title Celebrities Who Were Stripped Of Their Titles | Fulton Umbrellas

We all hope to one day make the Queen’s Honours List, and it’s something that our grandparents would definitely be proud of. As one of the highest esteems in the country, the given title can truly ensure that one’s legacy and admirable work is remembered in years to come. As well as this, the award itself can be passed on down generations and ensure that they are fully aware of the achievements their ancestors had made.

But while the honour may be the highlight of someone’s life or career, it can be taken away — and has been done so on countless occasions for those who have misbehaved. If a recipient does not continue to meet the expectations, the government has the permission to revoke the title and publish the decision in the London Gazette.

But which famous faces have lost their honours?

Anthony Blunt

Everybody knows that Queen Elizabeth loves her art. So much so, she appointed Anthony Blunt as an art adviser. He was in charge of the Royal Collection for 27 years and was knighted with the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1956.

However, his title was stripped in 1979 after he was exposed as a Soviet spy. Sources have suggested that his secret was known within different government circles, but was publicly exposed by Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher in the same year. Did you know that he was offered immunity from prosecution in 1964 for his confession?

Alan Seymour Davies

Appointed his knighthood in 2000 for services to education, Alan Seymour Davies, a former headteacher of Copland School in Wembley, was revoked of his Knight Bachelor title in 2014. Davies pleaded guilty to false accounting and had created eight back-payment documents for sums which totaled £315,000 — despite earning a salary of £160,000 before resigning in 2009.

Fred Goodwin

You may remember Fred Goodwin as the former boss of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), who was heavily criticized in 2008 following the firm’s near-collapse. He allowed a multi-billion-pound deal to buy a rival company during the financial crisis.

Because of the purchase, which had a profound impact on the wider economy, the UK government were required to bail out RBS. His knighthood, which was given in 2004 for services to banking, was annulled by the Queen in 2012.

James Crosby

Unlike the others on our list, James Crosby actually asked for his knighthood to be removed. The Banking Standards Commission in 2013 described him as the ‘architect’ of the strategy that led to HBOS’ downfall — seeing as he was chief executive of the firm between (2001-2006).

It was in 2006 where Crosby was knighted for his services to the financial industry, but he made a request for cancellation to the Honours Forfeiture Committee which they formally considered and later accepted in 2013.

Jean Else

Jean Else remains the only person to have lost her title as Dame and the reasons why are quite shocking. In 2001, she was given the title for her services to education after transforming the fortunes of Whalley Range High School in Manchester.

But in 2009, the General Teaching Council found that she promoted her twin sister from a clerical assistant to assistant headteacher. Fast forward to 2011, she was banned from running a school and her title was revoked.

Those were just some of the people who had their honours removed. Did you know that you could nominate someone who had made achievements in public life or committed themselves to serving and helping Britain?

If you know someone special, visit the government website and put them forward. While you’re waiting for the letter to come through the post, we recommend you treat them to a birdcage umbrella. After all, Her Majesty herself uses them!