"Arise, Sir Ringo!"?

[Milky Tears]

The Sun has joined the campaign/online petition to get Ringo Starr a knighthood in the New Years Honours List.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006580262,00.html

Arise, Sir Ringo, you are a Starr
By DEREK BROWN
December 16, 2006

WHAT do you think Cliff Richard, Tom Jones and Bobby Charlton all have in common?

They have all had dodgy hit singles remember Englands Back Home from the 1970 World Cup?

They also happen to be Knights Of The Realm.

But there is one music legend who remains without a knighthood.

So, today, The Sun is backing a growing campaign to put that right in the New Years Honours List.

He is the man who has touched the lives of three generations of music fans with his genius, the man who was one quarter of the greatest band ever to walk the Earth and, last but not least, the man who provided the voice for Thomas The Tank Engine.

And if dodgy singles are the criteria for a knighthood well, then he has certainly had a few of those in his solo career.

That man is, of course, Ringo Starr.

A new online petition to get a knighthood for the fourth greatest Beatle is now being flooded with signatures from Fab Four fans furious that the quirky drummer has been consistently overlooked.

Fans of Ringo from all over the world are adding their names to the campaign after 10 Downing Street has for the first time allowed petitions for honours to be considered via their website.

A committee of Starr-struck fans have put together ten reasons why the bearded all-rounder should be made to Arise, Sir Ringo!

They include the fact that Ringo currently has just an MBE, which puts him on the same tier as, er, Gerry And The Pacemakers singer Gerry Marsden and Hot Chocolates Errol Brown. They also cite Ringos drum solo on Beatles album Abbey Roads track The End as sole proof he should get a gong.

Petitioner Michelle Honick writes: Ringo should have been knighted long ago.

US citizen Scott Benowitz, who, sadly, is ineligible to sign the petition, writes: Lets see that credit is cited where credit is long overdue.

A contributor called Tom says: Ringo makes great album covers and he was married to Barbara Bach, star of Island Of The Fishmen.

And Alex R posts: Ringo did the voice for Thomas The Tank Engine . . . case closed.

The Beatles Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo were all awarded MBEs at Buckingham Palace in 1965.

They were nominated by the then Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

Macca later went on to be made Sir Paul by the Queen in 1997, John and George died and Ringo has, in the eyes of many, been left on the shelf.

With Prime Minister Tony Blairs approval, and enough signatures, Ringos army of fans now reckon that he could be getting down on one knee very soon.

A fitting honour, Im sure youll agree, for the virtuoso responsible for Octopuss Garden.

SIGN the Ringo knighthood petition today at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Ringostarr/

He deserves one just for 'It Don't Come Easy'.

[Anthony Williams]

I signed the petition!

he's certainly more deserving than some people who've been given honours.

Ant x

[Simon R]

He deserves one just for the fabulous flop single that was "La De Dah" in 1998. He did it on the Lottery to an audience of screaming girls. Unlikely but true.

[Stuart Wallis]

With Prime Minister Tony Blair’s approval, and enough signatures, Ringo’s army of fans now reckon that he could be getting down on one knee very soon.

Doesn't Ringo know that Little Tone's married...

Has anyone noticed that George Harrison's signed it. That was a good trick!

[Rob McCow]

The Beatles wouldn't have been the band they were without him. Whatever that might mean!