Robin Gibb family tried to earn star a knighthood

Robin Gibb's cousin has revealed that his family was aiming to score the Bee Gees star a knighthood before his death, as she and his family knew he was living on 'borrowed time'.

Paperwork was filed in 2011 during his battle with cancer, and cousin Hazel believes he would have made the 2012 honours list.

"I put in the official nomination papers in about October last year and someone started a campaign on Facebook and a petition," she said in an interview with Australian radio station, 4bc. "We knew Robin was on borrowed time and I said, 'Look, I know it takes 12 to 18 months, but we don't have this time, time is not a luxury we can afford.

"It was being seriously considered by the government. We actually think he probably would have received a knighthood in (the Queen's) Birthday Honours List, but they don't do them posthumously at the moment."

She added that she was now campaigning to secure a knighthood for Barry Gibb, the only surviving member of the seventies disco legends.

Robin Gibb will be buried at an intimate ceremony for family and friends on 8 June, 2012.