 He lived at North Mymms Park.In 1972, he was appointed a Knight of the Venerable Order of St John and was upgraded to a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order on 31 December 1990.Burns was a recipient of the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Companion of the Order of the Bath, Distinguished Service Order, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Military Cross, and the Venerable Order of Saint John.