Lou Gerstner, high panjandrum at IBM, has been awarded an honorary knighthood in the Queen's latest birthday honours list.

Following his anointment Sir Lou will be 551st in line for the throne, behind India Hicks, a member of the Mountbatten family and god-daughter of Prince Charles, but 20 places ahead of Sir Bob Geldof, the sometime pop singer and full-time country squire.

Barron Knights

IBM is the official sponsor of the Order of The Knights of The Garter. It will supply disaster recovery and resuscitation units for The Knights' world tour next year.

Jon of Gent

Also ennobled is Chris 'Now he's a Proper' Gent, Keeper of the Queen's Hand Sets. In his spare time, Proper Gent helps out at Vodafone, a mobile telephony company.

In Sir Gent

Proper Gent has made it known that he is to be known henceforth as Jonathan. The Act of Succession of 1801 bars people by the name of Christopher from ascending the throne. ®