Who came up with this list, & when?

[tikay]

I recently lost/mislaid or had stolen my Passport, so I've had to go through the rigmarole of getting a new one. I have a "Lost or Stolen Passport Renewal Reference" thing from the Passport Office, so I'm good to go.

Then I found that the form needed a countersignatory (also a photo endorsed) by one of these trades, professions or callings.

Did you ever see a dafter list? What makes that list of jobs so special? How is a pub licensee, a Funeral Director or a bloody chiropodist better than, say, Tom the Cat Hater?

Countersignatories must work in (or be retired from) a recognised profession or be ‘a person of good standing in their community’, eg:

accountant
airline pilot
articled clerk of a limited company
assurance agent of recognised company
bank/building society official
barrister
chairman/director of limited company
chiropodist
commissioner of oaths
councillor, eg local or county
civil servant (permanent), but not someone who works for Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO)
dentist
director/manager/personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
engineer - with professional qualifications
financial services intermediary, eg a stockbroker or insurance broker
fire service official
funeral director
insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
journalist
Justice of the Peace
legal secretary - fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs
licensee of public house
local government officer
manager/personnel officer of a limited company
member, associate or fellow of a professional body
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy officer
minister of a recognised religion - including Christian Science
nurse - RGN or RMN
officer of the armed services
optician
paralegal - certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals
person with honours, eg an OBE or MBE
pharmacist
photographer - professional
police officer
Post Office official
president/secretary of a recognised organisation
Salvation Army officer
social worker
solicitor
surveyor
teacher, lecturer
trade union officer
travel agent - qualified
valuer or auctioneer - fellows and associate members of the incorporated society
Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers

[tikay]

A journalist?

A JOURNALIST?

Are you kidding me? Since when have journos been so bloody respectable?

[doubleup]

No riff raff

[celtic]

No riff raff

Glasgow bandit signed my sons passport application.

I doubt they check.

[RED-DOG]

Barry Nevil could sign it for you.

[tikay]

Barry Nevil could sign it for you.

Under which of those categories does Barry qualify?

[RED-DOG]

Barry Nevil could sign it for you.

Under which of those categories does Barry qualify?

Pub Landlord.

[tikay]

Barry Nevil could sign it for you.

Under which of those categories does Barry qualify?

Pub Landlord.

Still?

Apols, thought he had moved on from that.

[RED-DOG]

Barry Nevil could sign it for you.

Under which of those categories does Barry qualify?

Pub Landlord.

Still?

Apols, thought he had moved on from that.

Countersignatories must work in (or be retired from)

[KarmaDope]

Shit.

I can sign these things now. FML.

[Eso Kral]

Arbboy can sign it for you.

[tikay]

Arbboy can sign it for you.

Lecturer?

[Eso Kral]

Arbboy can sign it for you.

Lecturer?

That's Mere!

Arbboy is a fully qualified "justice of the peace"

[Nakor]

Mrs has signed a few and has had call back to authorize here signature, how long she has known said person etc on more then one occasion, so they do check some.

[77dave]

What modern job titles should be added to the list?

Internet wiz kid?