Order of the Companions of Honour

Founded by King George V in June 1917, the Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth honour awarded for outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry and religion. It consists of the Sovereign and one class of members, and carries no title or precedence although the postnominal letters CH are used. Not more than 65 people are admitted, with a quota of 45 members for the United Kingdom, 7 for Australia, 2 for New Zealand and 11 for other countries.

The insignia of the Order consists of an oval medallion with an oak tree, a shield with the royal arms hanging from one branch, and on the left a mounted knight in armour. The badge's clear blue border bears the motto IN ACTION FAITHFUL AND IN HONOUR CLEAR in gold letters, and the oval is surmounted by an imperial crown. Men wear the badge round their necks, and women from a bow at the left shoulder.

Current Companions of Honour include naturalist David Attenborough, actor Paul Scofield, scientist Stephen Hawking, playwright Harold Pinter, and former Prime Ministers John Major and David Lange.

See also the list of people who have declined a British honour.

Current Members

• Sovereign: HM The Queen
• Members:
  • The Rt Hon. Michael Fraser AC CH (1976)
  • The Rt Hon. Sir Michael Somare GCMG CH (1978)
  • Frederick Sanger OM CH CBE FRS (1981)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Carrington KG GCMG CH MC PC DL (1983)
  • Sydney Brenner CH FRS (1987)
  • Stephen Hawking CH CBE FRS (1989)
  • The Rt Hon. David Lange CH ONZ (1990)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Baker of Dorking CH PC (1992)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville CH PC (1992)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord King of Bridgwater CH PC (1992)
  • Dame Janet Baker CH DBE (1993)
  • Lucian Freud OM CH CBE (1993)
  • Sir John Lindsay Eric Smith CH CBE (1993)
  • Reginald V. Jones CH CB CBE FRS (1994)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Owen CH PC (1994)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Hurd of Westwell CH PC (1995)
  • Sir David Attenborough CH CVO CBE FRS (1996)
  • Sir Richard Doll CH OBE FRS (1996)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Heseltine CH PC (1997)
  • David Hockney CH (1997)
  • The Rt Hon. John Major CH (1998)
  • The Rt Hon. Christopher Patten CH (1998)
  • Bridget Riley CH CBE (1998)
  • General John de Chastelain OC CMM CH OStJ CD (1999)
  • Doris Lessing CH OBE (2000)
  • Chad Varah CH CBE (2000)
  • Sir Harrison Birtwistle CH (2001)
  • Sir Colin Davis CH CBE (2001)
  • Paul Scofield CH CBE (2001)
  • Sir Michael Howard CH CBE MC (2002)
  • Harold Pinter CH CBE (2002)
  • The Rt Hon. The Lord Hannay of Chiswick GCMG CH (2003)
  • Sir Howard Hodgkin CH CBE (2003)
  • James Lovelock CH CBE FRS (2003)
  • Sir Charles Mackerras CH AC CBE (2003)
  • Sir Denis Mahon CH CBE (2003)
  • Dan McKenzie CH FRS (2003)