QUEEN HONOURS GORDON BUCHANAN IN NEW YEAR LIST

Gordon Buchanan, whose roots are in Dumbarton where his family owned Dalreoch Garage, receives the MBE in the Queen’s Honours List.

By Bill Heaney

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to the Scottish recipients of awards in The Queen’s New Year Honours list.

They include Gordon Buchanan, of the Buchanan family, long associated with Dumbarton through their ownership of Dalreoch Garage on Cardross Road.

Gordon’s wife, Margaret,  is a member of the well-known McKenzie farming family of Gartocharn on Loch Lomondside.

Actress Maureen Beattie, who stars with David Tennant in the upcoming TV drama Deadwater Fell, has also been made an OBE.

Beattie – whose father is the popular Scottish actor and comedian Johnny Beattie – is being recognised for services to the entertainment industry, having become the second female president of the Equity trade union last year.

Meanwhile, Helen Holland has also been made an OBE for services to survivors of childhood abuse, having co-founded the Wellbeing Scotland project In Care Abuse Survivors.

Harris tweed success

Former Labour politician Brian Wilson has been made a CBE for services to business and charity in Scotland.

He served as a minister of state under Tony Blair and is currently the chairman of Harris Tweed Hebrides, which has been credited with leading the tweed industry out of crisis.

Mr Wilson, pictured right, who is a regular columnist for The Dumbarton Democrat, also a director at Celtic FC, has spoken of his “surprise” when told of his royal honour.

He set up the company in 2008, “when the industry was at a low ebb”. He said: “I think this is more of a recognition of everyone who has been involved in the Harris Tweed revival.”

The former politician added: “I think it’s generally accepted that we have led the revival of an industry that’s in a pretty perilous condition.”

There is a Companion of the Order of the Bath for Sarah Davidson, lately of the Scottish Government, for Public Service.

Those receiving CBEs include Scottish Makar Professor Jackie Kay, Professor Rowena Arshad, Ian Barrett Curle, Dr Colin Thomas Currie MBE, Joanna Baker and Professor John Pickard.

Lesley Knox, Helen Holland, Rev Elizabeth Jack, Alan Sherry, Philip Long, Shabir Beg, Professor Helen Sang, Dr Helen McKay, Catriona Matthew MBE and Professor Shelia McLean are among those who will receive an OBE.

Recipients of an MBE include Anne Elliot, Jean Leonard, Mark Jardine, Alexander May, Margaret McKinlay, Jennifer Rodgers, Thomas Brown, Lady Jill Kirkwood and Vivien Currie.

Assistant Chief Constable Gillian MacDonald receives Queen’s Police Medal.

Assistant Chief Constable Gillian MacDonald and Detective Chief Superintendent Gerry McLean will receive The Queen’s Police Medal. The Queen’s Fire Service Medal will be awarded to Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Area Manager James Arthur Hymas, and paramedic Gail Topping will receive The Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:  “The people of Scotland recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours have made exceptional contributions to communities the length and breadth of this country and beyond. Their service and dedication in fields ranging from the arts, education and sport to business, charity, community cohesion and science has helped to promote Scotland all over the world and benefited people throughout society.

“It is also important to recognise the work of our emergency services to keep people and communities across Scotland safe and I congratulate those who have been awarded The Queen’s Fire, Police or Ambulance Service Medals.”

Landmark – Buchanan’s Garage at the foot of Comelybank Lane at Dalreoch.