New Year Honours: A Royal salute for local heroes' tireless service

Published on Thursday 30 December 2010 18:30

A DEDICATED community police officer, a lifelong judo enthusiast and the boss of the Royal Botanic Garden are among the Edinburgh and Lothian names honoured in the Queen's New Year Honours list today.

AWARDS: George Kerr is made a CBE

Elsewhere, local people are honoured for everything from services to lace making to helping keep hospital waiting times down.

Special Pc Lily Laing was among those celebrating after learning she would become an MBE for services to the police and the community. Pc Laing, who lives in Colinton and always refuses to divulge her age, said: "I just can't believe it. I received my letter, which to be honest I actually thought was from Kenny MacAskill, because we'd been doing work on a project together.

"It said Cabinet Office so I assumed it was from him. My husband said 'Is it from Kenny?' and I said 'I think you should maybe read this' and he burst into tears. It was just a complete surprise.

"I'm delighted that this award has underlined the important work that Lothian and Borders Police continues to carry out."

Pc Laing, who has been in the police since 1989, has been recognised for her work with community groups, including her current project, The City They View, The City You See, which aims to help communities overcome antisocial behaviour. She also gives talks to children with the aid of a ventriloquist's dummy called Sergeant Angus.

Based at Craigmillar Police Station, she was recognised last year when she was named Officer of the Year by the International Association of Women in Policing.

NEW YEAR HONOURS

• Annie Lennox leads Scots' march to the palace

• Leader: 'Enjoy your moment in the limelight'

• Lothian roll of honour

Meanwhile, Professor Stephen Blackmore, Regius Keeper at the Royal Botanic Garden, becomes a CBE for services to plant conservation. Prof Blackmore, 58, who lives in Granton, has been boss at the Garden since 1999, taking it through the construction and opening of the new John Hope Gateway visitors' centre this year.

He said: "I'm very excited and really pleased. It's been an amazing year at the Botanics and there are lots of good things going on at the Garden so it just capped it all wonderfully to get a letter in the post one day - which I must admit I didn't believe at the time."

Also landing a CBE is "Mr Judo" George Kerr for services to the sport. Mr Kerr, 73, from Leith, is president of the British Judo Association and has been practising the sport since he was eight. He has taught judo to thousands of children and young people, first at The Edinburgh Club, which he formed in 1964, and now at his Junior Judo club in West Bowling Green Street.

The grandfather of two said: "I am ecstatic, I could not believe it. To get a CBE is phenomenal. I'm very surprised and honoured to receive such a high award."

Local hero Tom Attenburgh, of Newhaven, becomes an MBE for his services to Scouting.Mr Attenburgh, 76, known as 'Tracker' serves the 6th Leith Scout Group as District Commissioner, a group he has been with for more than six decades. His contribution to the Scouting movement was recognised in 1990 when he was awarded the Silver Wolf, the highest scout honour possible. He thinks the honour is on a par with receiving the Silver Wolf, but admits it came as quite a shock. "I'm very honoured to have this award," he said. "I got a bit overwhelmed and had to sit down and read it again."

Elsewhere, Professor Donald MacRae receives an OBE for services to enterprise and to rural development in Scotland.

Prof MacRae, 56, who lives in Newington, is chief economist for the Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB Scotland, although he receives his honour primarily for his work in rural and business development.

Alny Mary Graham becomes an MBE for services to the Children's Hearings system in Scotland. The 78-year-old, from Haddington, said she viewed the award as a recognition for hard work done by the Children's Hearings System.

Dr Lindsay Burley becomes a CBE for services to the NHS in Scotland after 40 years working for the organisation.

Dr Burley, 60, who lives in Musselburgh, said: "I was absolutely thrilled, really pleased. It was certainly a surprise."

And Catriona Mason becomes an MBE for services to lace making. Miss Mason, known as Kitty, was among a group of volunteers from the Edinburgh Lace Club who hand-made a set of lace jabot and cuffs to adorn the court dress worn by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland when he met the Queen in 1983. The group's efforts meant the moderator and his successors would no longer have to wear machine-made lace to formal occasions. Miss Mason was also one of the first tutors to get involved in the annual Edinburgh Lace Course at Heriot Watt University when it was established in 1981.

Shaben Begum becomes an MBE for services to health care. Ms Begum, from Joppa, is director of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, which provides support to advocacy organisations.