Capital day for Scots honoured by Queen

Published on Tuesday 1 July 2008 22:05

DOZENS of Scots from all walks of life were in Edinburgh yesterday to receive honours from the Queen.

Leading artist Alison Watt and Philip Riddle, the chief executive of VisitScotland, were made OBEs, and whisky industry boss Ian Good, of the Edrington group, was knighted, during a service at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. A total of 84 awards were given out in all.

The Queen took just under an hour to hand out the honours in the palace's Picture Gallery, accompanied throughout by music performed by the orchestra of the Scots Guards and watched by the Royal Company of Archers – the Queen's official bodyguard in Scotland.

Ephraim Borowski, a leading member of the Jewish community, was appointed an MBE. Mr Borowski was involved in establishing the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, of which he is director.

Professor Timothy O'Shea, principal of Edinburgh University, was honoured with a knighthood for his services to higher education, and former drama lecturer Annie Inglis, who has been involved in amateur dramatics for some 50 years, was made an MBE.

The Queen later played host to about 8,000 guests at her annual garden party in the palace grounds, with Alex Salmond, the First Minister, among the crowd enjoying the warm weather and live music.