Scots thrilled to be honoured for work in arts, sport and public service

Published on Saturday 11 June 2005 01:55

MIDGE Ure, the former frontman of 1980s pop group Ultravox and founder of Live Aid, said it was "wonderful" to receive an OBE for his music and charity work.

Ure, who co-wrote the 1984 Band Aid hit Do They Know it's Christmas? with Sir Bob Geldof, said he was finding it hard to take in.

Ure is one of several Scots connected to the campaign to make African poverty history who are honoured today.

Ayrshire-born entrepreneur Tom Hunter, who built up the Sports Division chain of shops and donated 7 million to Bob Geldof's Band Aid appeal, is awarded a knighthood for philanthropy. Meanwhile, Scots-based business tycoon Chris Gorman, who is also working with Sir Tom and Midge Ure on anti-poverty events, receives an OBE.

Ure said: "It's fantastic. Of course I was surprised. I think it's wonderful. It says that it's for music and charity work, which is great, it's not only for Band Aid or Live Aid.

"That's important to me, as none of this would have happened without the music.

"I've been so embroiled with Live 8 that it's been quite hard to take in."

He joked: "I've spoken to Bob and he says he has nothing to do with it."

Ure has come a long way from the boy who grew up in a tenement in Cambuslang and was branded a has-been at 22. The singer, who did an engineering apprenticeship before achieving success as a musician, said of his youth: "We didn't have a telly and I think the radio was on all the time. That was my musical background."

Ure shot to national fame in 1979 when he became the new frontman for electronic band Ultravox. The band's 1981 song Vienna became an anthem of the era, and Ultravox recorded seven top ten albums in six years.

Sir Tom, aged 44, has amassed a fortune of 678 million but is also known as one of Britain's most generous philanthropists.

Last year the businessman announced plans to give away 100 million of his fortune to charity, and he has been one of the prime movers in the Make Poverty History campaign.

Raised in the mining village of New Cumnock, Sir Tom has spent 13.5 million encouraging young Scots to start their own businesses via the Hunter Foundation he set up in 1998.

Sir Tom began his business career selling trainers from the back of a van and went on to build up the Sports Division chain of shops which he later sold for 290 million.

His reaction to the knighthood was summed up in one sentence: "I'm chuffed to bits."

Many more Scots in the arts, sports world and in public service are also honoured. Former Scottish Opera soprano Lisa Milne is awarded an MBE for services to opera and music. In February this year she was publicly critical of the Executive's "pathetic" arts policy.

Milne, 34, said she was absolutely delighted with the honour, adding: "I never expected this to happen to a wee lassie from Aberdeen. It's nice not only for myself but for my parents who have been behind me every step of the way."

The Chief Constable of Strathclyde, William Rae, receives a knighthood in today's honours list.

Scotland's top officer has overseen a number of high-profile crime investigations throughout the years, including the abduction and murder of Glasgow teenager Kriss Donald last year, and has also led crackdowns on domestic abuse and alcohol-related violence and crime.

The father-of-two said: "My inclusion in the Birthday Honours List has only been possible because of the support provided by my fellow chief officers and the professionalism and courage of the men and women who work in the Scottish Police Service."

In other areas, Scotland's recently-retired chief medical officer, Dr Mac Armstrong was made a companion of the Order of the Bath while Joseph Beeston, chief executive of the Highland Spring bottled water firm, was awarded an OBE for services to the soft drinks industry in Scotland.