New Year's Honours: 'Enjoy your moment in the limelight'

Published on Thursday 30 December 2010 09:36

It is easy to be dismissive about the Queen's New Year's Honours in these days when old-fashioned deference to royalty seems as distant from our daily lives as the rip-roaring script of Upstairs Downstairs.

What makes them worthwhile, though, is the well-deserved recognition they give to so many unsung heroes who make life immeasurably better for the rest of us through their tireless efforts.

Stars of entertainment and sport always hog the limelight as we debate the merits of the recipients - and those who missed out. There are well-deserved gongs this year for Annie Lennox, a passionate campaigner for the developing world, and Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell, but no knighthood again for Bruce Forsyth or the predicted elevation of the young showbiz pretender Simon Cowell.

Those who have perhaps done the most to earn their honours are the community stalwarts such as Special Police Constable Lily Laing, who has done so much to improve life for the young and elderly in Craigmillar.

And the ever-green judo champion George Kerr, who has devoted a lifetime to his sport and helping young people, the skilled craftswoman Catriona Mason, honoured for her services to lace-making, and the devoted Edinburgh University student advisor Ann McKay all thoroughly deserve every last word of the shower of praise that will come their way.

Congratulations to them all, and to each and every one of our local winners. We hope you enjoy your moment in the limelight.

A time to reflect

What will be the abiding memories of 2010 in the Capital?

The cold blast of the economic downturn and, on an entirely different level, the deadly war in Afghanistan has been keenly felt in the city, while the continuing saga of the trams debacle must loom large over any retrospective.

Everyone will have their own personal highs and lows, of course. But looking forward there are some genuine grounds for hope, even if we must remain very guarded in our optimism.

The faltering Scottish economy is showing signs of life, with the respected Fraser of Allender Institute having just reported business confidence at a 30-month high.

We can only hope that confidence proves well-founded - and that someone finally gets a grip on the runaway tram project.