Soul II Soul frontman receives OBE

3:23pm Friday 16th May 2008

Jazzie B, the front man of the urban music collective Soul II Soul, has picked up his OBE.

Jazzie, celebrating 20 years at the heart of the group, had tamed his dreads into long plaits and wore a leather-look morning suit for the special trip to receive his gong from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. His son Mahlon, 12, wore a matching outfit.

Jazzie, 45, real name Trevor Romeo, said: "To be here at the palace was not in my dreams at all. It is fantastic to be in this situation.

"I'm going to get a really special place for this on my shelf."

He met jazz legend Andy Hamilton from Ladywood, Birmingham, who at 90 is still playing the saxophone and teaching youngsters about jazz. He was awarded the MBE.

Mr Hamilton, whose son Graham who used to play with the band the Fine Young Cannibals, said: "I'm very proud and I'm going to have a big party when I get back."

The prince awarded Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, an OBE for services to football.

Mr Taylor said: "He (the Prince) said it was about time that you received some recognition for what you have done - which was very nice of him.

"He thanked me for all the work that football has done for the Prince's Trust. I'm very proud. I'm not in this for the awards. I just love it because I love football."

Cinematographer Douglas Slocombe, 95, whose films include The Italian Job in 1969 and the classic Kind Hearts and Coronets in 1949, collected an OBE.

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