JACKIE Baillie has been officially made a “Dame Commander of the British Empire” at an investiture ceremony in Edinburgh.
The deputy leader of Scottish Labour had been awarded the DBE in the King’s birthday list in June 2023.
Baillie, a key figure in the 2014 referendum’s Better Together campaign, was given the honour in part for having put “the good of the country first”.
More than 6000 people signed a petition calling for the Dumbarton MSP to have the DBE award retracted.
On Wednesday, Baillie was among 73 people in Scotland who received their honours from Anne, the Princess Royal during an investiture ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Among others to receive honours at the palace on Wednesday were broadcaster and author Sally Magnusson, who was made an MBE for services to people with dementia and their carers.
She founded the charity Playlist for Life in 2013 after observing the effect music had on her mother’s dementia. It works with families and care homes to encourage people to develop a playlist of personally meaningful music for those with dementia.
Upon being made an MBE, she said: “It’s lovely that this award recognises the restorative power of personally meaningful music to people living with dementia.
“Through this music they find themselves able to experience genuine joy and connection again.
“I’m thrilled to accept the award on behalf of Playlist for Life, and the many people who have supported us over the years.”
Charity campaigner Dr Cor Hutton was also made an MBE at Wednesday’s ceremony.
Hutton previously told PA it had “taken a wee while for the news to sink in”.
She nearly died in 2013 after suffering acute pneumonia and sepsis, and as a result she had to have both her hands and legs below the knee amputated.
Six years later in 2019, Hutton became the first person in Scotland to receive a double hand transplant, and in the same year she was named Scotswoman of the Year.
Hutton also received an honorary degree from the Open University in 2019.
Figures from charity and the emergency services were also honoured at the ceremony.
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