Richard Barrow receives the British Empire Medal (BEM)

[webfact]

 

Richard Barrow was honored on Wednesday, 16 March, when he received the British Empire Medal (BEM) from British Ambassador, Mark Gooding.  HM Queen Elizabeth II awarded Barrow "for services to British nationals overseas" in the 2021 New Year's Honours List.

 

Source: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=531614794991455&id=100044288176713

 

 

[richard_smith237]

This thread is going to be interesting after midday once the ‘barstoolers’ wake up and see that an alternative information stream has been valued more than their ‘if you don’t like it go home’ rhetoric …
 

Congratulations RB… a good source a factual info. 
 

This legitimisation will make it more difficult for immigration and other authorities trying & stiff him when he takes on anti-dual-pricing issues and other issues which negatively impact foreigners living in Thailand. 
 

 

 

[salsajapan]

Maybe he got it for being a good propaganda agent... he has been telling for 2 years to people what governments told him to repeat...

he must have the best bonner of his life ! After being paid by "the regime" to travel to UK, he now get a medal...

I can't stop laughing when he was so proud to be on the tarmac with some officials...

all his life he has been chasing that...

[cdemundo]

More power to Mr. Barrow he does a lot of good and puts out interesting and helpful information.

 

Not to be relentlessly negative but the "British Empire Medal"?

 

Seems like the name of the award could be revised to shake off the dust of imperialism a bit.

 

 

[TooMuchTime]

9 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

More power to Mr. Barrow he does a lot of good and puts out interesting and helpful information.

 

Not to be relentlessly negative but the "British Empire Medal"?

 

Seems like the name of the award could be revised to shake off the dust of imperialism a bit.

 

 

Lay off the soy.

British Imperialism is probably one of the best things that could've happened to the world.

[scubascuba3]

I follow him on Facebook, good useful positive info, i can see a knighthood coming eventually

[poohy]

insufferable propagandist!

[GrandPapillon]

got to be a joke, is this April 1st ? ????

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

More power to Mr. Barrow he does a lot of good and puts out interesting and helpful information.

 

Not to be relentlessly negative but the "British Empire Medal"?

 

Seems like the name of the award could be revised to shake off the dust of imperialism a bit.

 

 

So helpful I never saw any of it.

I've heard the name before on this forum, but never in real life while living in LOS.

 

While she lives I doubt the name of the medal will change as when she was born it did indeed exist. That it has come to the stage where Britain can't even make it's own planes to put on the new aircraft carrier is IMO a stain on all British politicians that reduced Britain from the ruler of much of the planet, to a sick joke.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

I follow him on Facebook, good useful positive info, i can see a knighthood coming eventually

Might explain why I never heard of him, as I'd rather cut them off with a rusty razor blade than go on that IMO despicable medium.

[Oxx]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

I follow him on Facebook, good useful positive info, i can see a knighthood coming eventually

Knighthood? Think bigger! Lord Barrow of Samut Prakan has a certain ring to it.

[Orinoco]

Good luck to him.

We need people like him. 

like him or not.  

[cdemundo]

2 hours ago, cdemundo said:

More power to Mr. Barrow he does a lot of good and puts out interesting and helpful information.

 

Not to be relentlessly negative but the "British Empire Medal"?

 

Seems like the name of the award could be revised to shake off the dust of imperialism a bit.

 

 

figured that would get a response from the crowd that thinks Kipling was a radical leftist.

[thaibeachlovers]

32 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

Good luck to him.

We need people like him. 

like him or not.  

IN his case, WHY? What has he ever done that made the life of the average farang living in LOS better? Given I never heard of him other than on this forum, I doubt he did much that made a real difference.

Did he make immigration easier/ better for us, make us qualified to be treated in a Thai pubic hospital at Thai prices, stop the cons against farangs, etc?

Do tell.

[sungod]

Ironic the UK Ambo is presenting an award to someone for services that his own Embassy should be providing...........

 

Information !!!

 

A form of outsourcing ????

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Might explain why I never heard of him, as I'd rather cut them off with a rusty razor blade than go on that IMO despicable medium.

Doesn´t seem as he have found TikTok, though

[wombat]

2 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

Lay off the soy.

British Imperialism is probably one of the best things that could've happened to the world.

And then all those new poms decided to visit the motherland.

How's that worked out for you?

[Bkk Brian]

40 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

Good luck to him.

We need people like him. 

like him or not.  

He's a great ambassador for the UK with his daily updates that can be very helpful including visa's, relevant news, places to visit, and any important updates for all nationalities not just British

[wombat]

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I doubt he did much that made a real difference.

 

I asked him a question that didn't fit his narrative or agenda and was blocked from his Facebook. 

W/anchor of the first order preying on people who are susceptible to fear paranoia and innuendo.

[Karma80]

I've enjoyed Richard's commentary, covid aside. He's done tremendous work on a volunatary basis for the British and whole expat community. He's one guy, that has done this part time. Kudos.

[Resident Alien]

He does have nice info from time to time on his twitter account.

I have been following him on twitter since the great flood of Bangkok.

 

But the yearly clickbait bs, about his extension of stay going to be denied, is very annoying.

In the end of course he always gets his extension, the same as most people with the correct paperwork and finance.

 

Congratulations to him with the BEM.

 

[Tom H]

He promotes Thailand for money? Flights, hotels paid etc.

 

I like his critical dual pricing issue but it has not changed anything really.

 

Politics?  Better not. Too much drama when he reniews his visa.

PM 2.5 matter? Good some years ago. 

Critical content? Good in general.

Immigration? Good first informations.

 

All in all I have an issue when a blogger receives benefits from people/institutions he reports. Marketing extension guy?

 

Well, he is more proud to receive these benefits than any other.

Narcism visible? Should look for a wife:)

 

Nevertheless FB is out, so I am less confronted with him:).

Good so.

 

[Tom H]

British Empire Medal?

 

GB has issues to fill up their supermarkets these days…

 

A medal for the proud with tears in the eyes thinking about the “Empire” some hundred years ago.

[jacko45k]

39 minutes ago, wombat said:

And then all those new poms decided to visit the motherland.

How's that worked out for you?

Not good.... how is it going down under?

[overherebc]

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

figured that would get a response from the crowd that thinks Kipling was a radical leftist.

He makes very good cakes though.

[jayboy]

A few things to say on Richard Barrow, having noted a number of negative comments.

 

1.He is an excellent source of information on Thailand.His output on social media is invaluable and I have often found his messaging on Covid and other matters extremely helpful.There is in short little alternative in quality and coverage.

 

2. I think he deserved an MBE rather than the BEM.

 

3.Part of Richard's charm is that there is a naivety even an innocence about him.Sometimes it's useful for those of us over involved in the detail of Thai politics and culture to hear a straightforward voice.

 

4.It seems that some (s)expatriates resent Richard's total lack of interest in girlie bars, prostitution and night entertainment.For those who are primarily interested in the sex industry there are various gor blimey tattooed ex-taxi driver types promoting this sector, particularly Pattaya.They turn my stomach but each to his own taste.

 

5.So well done Richard Barrow, an honour thoroughly deserved.

[phutoie2]

11 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

This thread is going to be interesting after midday once the ‘barstoolers’ wake up and see that an alternative information stream has been valued more than their ‘if you don’t like it go home’ rhetoric…
 

Congratulations RB… a good source a factual info. 
 

This legitimisation will make it more difficult for immigration and other authorities trying & stiff him when he takes on anti-dual-pricing issues and other issues which negatively impact foreigners living in Thailand. 
 

 

 

Great Post. I follow Barrows and a few others on twitter. I keep asking him how he blags all those freebie's. 

He needs to lay into the Brit Embassy a bit more. The look at us crowd gloating about their incredible achievements here. Where were our vaccines..... 

 

 

 

[vivananahuahin]

Is he a teacher or journalist?

[RandiRona]

He is political hack, ass kissing narcissist everyone should avoid. Not surprised UK embassy throwing some bones at him. If whining about dual pricing, this board members do a lot but no one able to do anything about it not him either. He could have used his connections to make UK expats covid concerns addressed but he was having fun with paid junkets...we dont need paid brokers like him.

Edited March 17, 2022 by RandiRona

[sungod]

16 minutes ago, phutoie2 said:

Great Post. I follow Barrows and a few others on twitter. I keep asking him how he blags all those freebie's. 

He needs to lay into the Brit Embassy a bit more. The look at us crowd gloating about their incredible achievements here. Where were our vaccines..... 

 

 

 

When he gets his UK state pension  will he will start complaining about not getting the yearly increases?