Politics

Man On Nodding Terms With Speaker Of The House To Receive Knighthood

Ted Baxter, 51, and a silk screen printer by profession, is to be a surprise recipient of a Knighthood. No one was more shocked than Ted himself.

"I got notification last week, but I wasn't allowed to tell anyone until it was officially made public. To be honest, I was quite shocked as I don't do anything for charity, except buy a poppy and pledge a fiver to Children In Need every year, and I didn't think silk screen printing was much to write home about either," said Ted.

"I only realised what it was for when the media got hold of the story. A couple of newspaper reporters contacted me. One fella said that when a name of no importance gets on the list, like me, then they feel it's their duty to expose which high ranking person has had a hand in it. I told them I didn't know who could have put my name forward. I was shown a series of pictures and recognised, who I now know to be, Michael Martin - the Speaker of the House. He'd always been the 'chubby, old guy who waves at taxi drivers' to me .

"I was asked what my connection to him was. I said I see him most mornings, usually between Park Road and the junction at Tithebarn Street. We nod 'good morning' to each other. Over the years we've developed a few nods, eye expressions and the occasional bit of body language to express our feelings. Just this morning he shuddered and looked up at the sky as he walked past me. It was either a bit chilly or he's got gout," added Ted.

The soon to be 'Sir' Ted said he was working on a nod and a wink to express his gratitude. "I always thought you had to pay for titles so I'm pleased that I'm getting mine for polite head movements. I've always felt people get them for trivial things, but I've changed my tune now."