Scottish recipients of New Year Honours include Tweedy the clown

Aberdeen-born Alan Digweed, 48, known as Tweedy the clown, has worked in shows across the world, and he has now been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the circus and the community.

He said: “The honour was a complete surprise. I nearly missed out because for some reason I didn’t get the email, and then they got in touch by my agent. I was too late in the end to respond to it, but they let me off for being late, typical clown fashion I guess.

“It will be a lot of fun going along.”

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Professor Peter Mathieson, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, is knighted for services to higher education, while two other Scots receive knighthoods and two become dames.

Anita Frew, the first female chairwoman in Rolls-Royce’s history and one of only 18 women leading boards among Britain’s biggest listed companies, is given a damehood for services to business and the economy.

The Scottish businesswoman said: “It is a great privilege to be recognised in this way.

“I’m sure that if anyone had told me, as a young girl growing up in Scotland with a father and a grandfather who worked at Rolls-Royce, that one day not only would I chair that company but would have the honour to be made a dame, I would not have believed it.”

Professor Heather Jane McGregor, provost and vice principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai has received a damehood for services to education, business and heritage.

William Robertson, who founded Robertson Group in Elgin, Moray, in 1966 and is executive chairman of the company, is knighted for services to the construction industry and to charity in Scotland, while Norman Keith Skeoch, previously chief executive of Standard Life Aberdeen, receives a knighthood for services to the financial sector.

From the field of sport, Scottish footballers Kim Little and Jen Beattie are made MBEs, as is Scotland captain and Liverpool player Andy Robertson, who is from Glasgow.

Scottish footballer Jen Beattie (Image: PA)

Scotland and Arsenal player Beattie is made an MBE for services to association football and to charity, while Arsenal player Little, Scotland’s vice-captain at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, is honoured for services to association football.

Robertson is recognised for services to association football, charity and young people.

Ian Reid of Kilmacolm, Inverclyde, who was chief executive of the organising committee of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, is made a CBE for services to sport.

Many people involved in the arts are also honoured in the list, including David Sutherland, illustrator of The Beano, who becomes an OBE for services to illustration.

Andrew Crummy, the artist behind the Great Tapestry of Scotland, has been made an MBE for services to art and cultural heritage.

He has worked on a number of large-scale public projects, including designing a 143-metre (469ft) long tapestry which tells the history of Scotland.

The 63-year-old, of East Lothian, said it was a “honour” to be given the rank and to have worked with people on the various projects he has been involved with.

Two people who helped save one of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s historic tea rooms in Glasgow have also been made MBEs.

Celia Sinclair Thornqvist, founder and patron of The Willow Tea Rooms Trust, and Professor Pamela Robertson have both been honoured in recognition of their work helping to restore the Scottish architect’s original Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street.

Others recognised include Professor David Crossman, former chief scientist (health) to the Scottish Government who is made a CBE for services to public health in Scotland, while Stuart Liddell, pipe major of Inveraray and District Pipe Band, is made an MBE for services to piping and music education.

School crossing patrol attendant Joyce Murray, 79, from East Dunbartonshire, receives the British Empire Medal (BEM) for service to the Boys’ Brigade (BB) and to the community in Glasgow.

She has been a BB officer for 54 years and worked as a lollipop lady from more than two decades.

The 79-year-old said: “I feel surprised and then pleased and proud of the BEM. It’s just nice to be recognised for things that you’ve done. It’s quite special.”

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Others honoured include James McEwan from Islay, four times master distiller of the year and inductee to the Whisky Hall of Fame, who is made an MBE.

British Empire Medals also go to Lucy Lintott, 28, from Moray, who has motor neurone disease and is honoured for her campaigning and fundraising to tackle the condition, and Sinclair Barbour, from Thornhill in Dumfries and Galloway, who for more than four decades has inspired people to participate in and learn the skills of Scottish country dancing.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Those recognised in The New Year’s Honours list have made exceptional contributions to communities across Scotland and beyond.

“These Honours are particularly poignant as they are the first to be awarded since the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, who reigned for over 70 years.

“The service and dedication of our successes, 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.”