This award for Show Business Personality of 1975 was awarded to Ronnie Barker (1929-2005) by Joe Church, the incumbent King Rat. It features a gold-coloured brass rat leaning its front paws on a block labelled 'GOWR' (for Grand Order of Water Rats) and a marble base with a brass plaque recording the details of the award. Ronnie Barker was one of the country's best-loved comedians and writers, especially famous for his association with Ronnie Corbett (1930-2016) in the BBC television comedy sketch shows The Two Ronnies that aired from 1971 to 1987.

The Grand Order of the Water Rats was formed by the music hall comedian Joe Elvin (1862-1935) and the trick cycling performer Jack Lotto (1856-1944). They formed a syndicate with Richard Thornton (1839-1922), founder of the Empire Palace, Sunderland, and the owner of a successful trotting horse, to use profits generated by the horse to fund a social club and charitable organisation in aid of struggling music hall performers. They took its original name 'The Pals of the Water Rat' from the name given one day to the horse when he was bedraggled by the rain, and held their first meeting in summer 1889 at The Magpie Hotel in Sunbury on Thames. The Water Rats continue to raise money for good causes by hosting shows, lunches, dinners and other events.