A POP sensation, a trailblazing female finance leader, a renowned whisky writer, and Scotland’s recently retired chief nursing officer are among those recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Others among the 47 recipients connected to Scotland include health and education leaders for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic – as well as the scion of the Harris Tweed-weaving Campbell family.
Singer Lulu has been made a CBE. The 72-year-old has turned her hand to musical theatre, television and more across a six-decade career and is recognised for services to music, entertainment and charity.
Anne Richards, the chief executive of the Fidelity International investing
firm, said she was delighted to be made a dame and hopes it “highlights to women the wonderful opportunities that a career in financial services can offer”.
The 57-year-old, from Edinburgh, who initially studied electronic and electrical engineering, said she went to a “great local comprehensive school” and had “no exposure to financial services”.
She went on: “When I later started my business degree, I had very little understanding of how the world of finance worked but I quickly developed a love for financial markets.
“All of these opportunities helped to open the door to a long and rewarding career where I’ve worked with many fantastic friends and colleagues. I’m grateful to work in an industry where every day we can say we are helping people to build better financial futures.”
Elsewhere, Professor Fiona McQueen, from Ayrshire, who retired as the country’s chief nursing officer earlier this year after seven years in the role, gets a CBE for services to the NHS in Scotland. Another woman being made an OBE is Catherine Campbell, of the Isle of Harris, the descendant of the Campbell family of the small crofting village of Plocrapool where Harris Tweed was first hand-woven.
She is given the honour for services to the Harris Tweed industry and economy on the Isle of Harris.
Meanwhile, Charles MacLean, an author of 18 books whose specialist subject is Scotch, becomes an MBE for services to Scotch whisky, to UK exports, and to charity.
The 69-year-old, from Edinburgh, said he was “gobsmacked and honoured”, adding: “The recognition like this means so much to me – it’s a wonderful thing to have been awarded.”
Paul Cackette, of Edinburgh, Holyrood’s former legal director and now director of outbreak control management, is made a CBE for services to the Scottish Government.
Teaching chief Ken Muir, of Ladybank, Fife, is also made a CBE for services to education in light of his work during the pandemic.
He retired as head of the General Teaching Council for Scotland earlier this year was recently made an honorary professor at the University of the West of Scotland.
Meanwhile, Brexiteers are also among those to have been recognised in the list, with Conservative former minister Andrea Leadsom (below) leading the political recipients by being made a dame.
The former business secretary is joined on the honours list by Oliver Lewis, a veteran of the Vote Leave campaign who is made a CBE for political and public service.
A prominent Brexiteer, former business secretary Andrea resigned as leader of the House of Commons in 2019 amid a backlash against Theresa May’s Brexit plan.
She had previously entered the fray to succeed David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party in 2016 but withdrew from the race, clearing the way for May to become the prime minister.
The South Northamptonshire MP, who entered Parliament in 2010 after a 25-year career in banking and finance, has been honoured with a damehood for her political service.
Lewis has been made a CBE just months after he quit as Boris Johnson’s main adviser on battling Scottish independence – less than a fortnight into the role.
He reportedly told friends his position as head of Downing Street’s Union unit was made “untenable” by others within Number 10. It came amid a bitter power struggle which saw the dramatic departures of former Vote Leave figures – and allies of Lewis – Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain.
Leadsom said she was “deeply honoured” to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, adding: “It is an immense privilege to be recognised for service to politics.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel