definitely stiff upper lip time

Sir Paul Stephenson, the senior officer who will take temporary command of the Metropolitan Police Service in a few months, is to be knighted by the Queen on Friday. He will become acting head of the Met Police in December when its present Commissioner Sir Ian Blair steps down. Sir Ian dramatically announced his resignation last week after London Mayor Boris Johnson told him he wanted new leadership at the head of the Service. Sir Paul, a deputy commissioner in the Met Police, is knighted for services to policing. He joined the Lancashire Constabulary in 1975 and rose steadily through the ranks before becoming the force’s chief constable in 2002. Three years later he took up his present post with the Met. Also receiving honours from the Monarch at Buckingham Palace will be Clara Furse, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, who receives a damehood for her career in the financial services industry. Former England rugby captain Bill Beaumont will also be among those receiving honours when he is presented with a CBE. In November and December the Queen will hold two investiture ceremonies at Windsor Castle for the first time. A Palace spokeswoman said an investiture would be staged at the Berkshire royal residence to free up resources at Buckingham Palace where a celebration to mark the Prince of Wales’s 60th birthday will be held. The second ceremony at Windsor is being staged to make use of the arrangements that will be in place at the castle. – Press Association