Knot man Des Pawson doyen of bends, bowlines and bights, and a familiar sight with his round glasses and trademark red beret and scarf, has been awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace.

The award was made in recognition of his services to ropes and knot-tying.

When YM tried to contact him to offer our congratulations, the recorded answer at his Ipswich home announced that he and his wife couldn’t come to the phone as ‘we’re tied up at the moment.’