Peerage For Olivier

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32322, 13 June 1970, Page 1

Peerage For Olivier

(N.Z P A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON. June 13. Sir ‘Laurence Olivier, Britaih s most eminent actor, leads a star-studded cast of artists given awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list published today. He is made a baron and becomes the first theatre knight to be raised to the peerage. Although the title is non-hereditary, he will be able to sit in the House of Lords.

Another famous actor and film star who is honoured is Richard Burton, who is made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Sir Frederick Ashton has been made a Companion of Honour for services to ballet, and Dame Sybil Thorndike has been similarly honoured for her services to the theatre. In the Australian list the distinguished artist William Dargie has been made a Knight Bachelor. The Primate of Australia and Archbishop of Brisbane (the Most Rev. P. N. W. Strong) has been made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Miss Peggy Van Praagh, coartistic director of the Australian Ballet, has been made a Dame Commander of the same order.

The singer and actress Jessie Matthews, and the New Zealand actress, Nyree Dawn Porter, who starred in the television serial “The Forsyte Saga” are made Officers of the Order of the British Empire. The television personality David Frost also becomes an 0.8. E. The same award goes to the England soccer World Cup goalkeeper, Gordon Banks. •