Armando Iannucci among the great and good of Scotland honoured by the Queen

COMEDIAN and writer Armando Iannucci, best known for his Westminster political comedy satire series The Thick Of It, is among the Scots who have been recognised in today’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Iannucci, 48, born in Glasgow to a Scottish mother and Italian father is honoured with an OBE for his services to broadcasting. Iannucci is among several hundred people in Scotland to receive the Queen’s recognition.

Five Scots from the worlds of politics, business, education and the arts have received knighthoods.

They are: George Reid, former presiding officer at the Scottish Parliament, who is being honoured for services to Scottish politics and public life; Malcolm Bruce, former Scottish Lib Dem president and MP for Gordon, receives the award for services to public and political service; Dr William Haughey, OBE, former non-executive director of Celtic and charity fund-raiser is being knighted for his services to business and philanthropy; Professor James McDonald, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, who receives his knighthood for services to education, engineering and the economy; and David McVicar, the opera director, recognised for his services to the arts.

Edinburgh businesswoman Shaheen Unis, managing director of Mrs Unis Spicy Foods and co-founder of the Edinburgh Mela, receives a CBE for services to business and community relations. Dr Gordon Rintoul, director of the National Museums of Scotland, also receives a CBE.

David Liddell, director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, receives an OBE for services to disadvantaged people in Scotland. Comic book writer and playwright Grant Morrison, from Glasgow – regarded as one of the biggest British names in the comic industry – receives an MBE for services to film and literature.

Former world champion boxer Alex Arthur, nicknamed “Amazing” Alex, from Edinburgh, also receives an MBE for his services to the sport.

However, many of the awards go to those outside the public eye who work tirelessly in their local communities.

Trevor Francis, a 67-year-old station master at Aberdour in Fife, receives an MBE for services to the local community in recognition of his unpaid work as station gardener, spending up to six hours a day tending plants and shrubs.

Barbara Johnstone, 67, receives an MBE for services to charity. Ms Johnstone founded Ravelrig Riding for the Disabled, based in Balerno, Edinburgh, and has raised more than £1 million over the years.

The same award goes to Vanessa Orr, 54, a foster carer for Edinburgh City Council, who has cared for more than 144 children in over 25 years. She is recognised for her services to vulnerable children and young people.

First Minister Alex Salmond paid tribute to Scots recognised in the Honours list.

“All of us in Scotland can take pride in the many and varied achievements of the successful nominees, whose achievements are rightly celebrated today.”