Three people stripped of Queen's honours for bringing system into disrepute Nicholson had fronted a gang of fraudsters who claimed wages for "ghost" employees. Nicholson arranged trips to Canada for himself and relatives, all at the expense of the local authority, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. On one occasion, he and 10 others enjoyed a 10-day break to Canada worth £4,000 in February 2005. Two other people are also losing honours which were given to them by the Queen. David Arthur Russon, at teacher in Stourbridge, West Midlands, is losing his MBE for service to education after his conduct was called into question after allegations of inappropriate personal contact with pupils at Ridgewood High School. Leslie William Smith is also losing his OBE in 1994 for his services to the Rail Industry through his position as Managing Director of Trainload Freight, British Railways Board. In April 2012 at Aylesbury Crown Court, Mr Smith was charged with two counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 18 months" imprisonment. He will have to sign the Sex Offenders" Register for 10 years. The three men were told of the decision in a letter from the Royal Household's Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, which publishes the London Gazette.