I READ with great interest your article on the distinguished First World War veteran Henry Allingham (The Argus, March 17) and the start of your commendable campaign to honour him (March 18).

I wrote to The Argus last year suggesting a knighthood as a fitting and long overdue tribute to this remarkable man.

Indeed, I have been so impressed by his achievements at such an advanced age that I felt I had to nominate him myself for this national honour.

Having followed all the rules and procedures in nominating Mr Allingham’s good works in recent years I have to say that, many months on, I have been totally exasperated by this country’s honours system. In a depressingly predictable way it seems to fast-track Olympic gold medallists, celebrities, businessmen and politicians, and yet apparently (so I am told) takes one year to 18 months (and that is in “swift” mode) to consider the case of a genuine, exceptional, truly deserving individual who over the last ten years at an amazing age has done so much to encourage, support and inspire others, especially youngsters. So just what does it take to award this man a proper national honour?

I am left wondering how exactly does our deeply mysterious honours system work? Who makes the decisions? Does anybody really know?

I do know that time goes on and Mr Allingham, at the age of 112, is understandably in increasingly fragile health, and urgent action is desperately needed. France does not hesitate to honour Mr Allingham with its most prestigious award, the Legion d’Honneur. For goodness sake, why can’t his own country do the same?

I really do wish The Argus the very best of luck with its campaign. I am sure The Argus readers will enthusiastically support it. So please, let’s hear it for Sir Henry!

David Pritchard
Cross Road
Southwick