"Art is pleasure, invention is treasure, and this nation has got to recognise that": congratulations, Trevor

The Guardian has just (15 minutes ago) posted this year's British New Years Honours List. A swift scan reveals at least one IP personality: it's none other than Trevor Graham Baylis, already a regular OBE, who has now added a CBE ("Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire"). Described on the list as "Inventor and Founder, Trevor Baylis Brands plc", his honour is for "services to Intellectual Property".  His attitude to intellectual property can best be summarised by this quote:

"As they say, art is pleasure, invention is treasure, and this nation has got to recognise that. If they can spend a fortune on dead sheep and formaldehyde, then it can spend a bit more of that money on inventors".

Best known for his wind-up radios, Trevor is a larger than life character and a person who can be guaranteed to speak his mind.  This Kat congratulates Trevor on his fresh honour and adds that, whatever you may think about him (and whatever you may think about some of the pretty frank criticisms he has made of the IP system over the years), he has the distinction of being a person who cares and who gets up off his backside and actually does things. Well done!

You can read more about Trevor here.