Boxer Alex Arthur among Edinburgh residents rewarded for their services

BOXING legend Alex Arthur, a fundraiser in his nineties and an Edinburgh nurse are among the residents recognised in today’s Queen’s birthday honours list.

Twenty-four people across Edinburgh and the Lothians were included in the roll call of honours for 2012.

Among them was former British, European and WBO super-featherweight champion Alex Arthur, who was presented with an MBE for his services to the sport.

He said: “Obviously I’m really happy to have received this award.”

The Southside boxer, 33, said: “If you look at the list of people who have them it’s amazing – for me to be considered, it’s just great.

“I’ve been told that I was nominated by so many people, but I really am surprised, I’m just a boxer from Scotland. “But I was delighted to receive it, it’s been a long road.”

Hamish Adam, 65, a karate instructor from Penicuik, also received an MBE, while the director of Mrs Unis Spicy Foods, Shaheen Unis, who has a string of achievements in business and community work, received a CBE. Fiona Taylor, a ward sister at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre in the Western General, was given an MBE.

Comedian and writer Armando Iannucci, best known for creating cult comedy The Thick Of It, is honoured with an OBE.

Iannucci, 48, who was born in Glasgow to a Scottish mother and Italian father, studied at Oxford University.

He devised and directed, and was chief writer for, The Thick Of It, a Bafta-winning political satire famed for the foul-mouthed rants of some of its characters.

The series also led to a film, In The Loop, which was nominated for an Oscar for best writing in 2010.

Iannucci is one of 1201 people recommended for an award in the list.

Many of the awards go to those outside the public eye who are involved in their communities.

Barbara Johnstone, 67, receives an MBE for services to charity, after having founded Ravelrig Riding for the Disabled in Balerno and raising more than £1 million for it over the years.

Trevor Francis, a 65-year-old station master at Aberdour Railway Station in Fife, receives an MBE for services to the local community to recognise his unpaid work as station gardener, spending up to six hours a day tending the plants and shrubs there.

The same award goes to Vanessa Orr, 54, a long-term foster carer for Edinburgh City Council, who has fostered more than 144 children over 25 years.

She is recognised for her services to vulnerable children and young people.

Fundraiser Tommy Carson, 90, of Stenhouse, has raised hundreds of thousands for charities throughout the years, first as a performer then as an events organiser.

He has been awarded a British Empire Medal in recognition of his fundraising over the years.

He is behind hundreds of events in the Capital set up in aid of charities and organisations including St Columba’s Hospice and the Sick Kids Hospital.

His work has raised funds for everything from Crohn’s disease charities to guide dogs and without fail, for the last 50 years, he has organised a Christmas party for hundreds of pensioners in the Capital.

His only break from performing was when the Second World War broke out and, at 17, he volunteered for the army.

“It’s good to be recognised,” he said.

“I still do what I did 70 years ago, I’ve never made any money out of it, but it’s the satisfaction.”

Paying tribute to those recognised in the Birthday Honours List was First Minister Alex Salmond.

“Scots from all walks of life including from the voluntary sector, public services, business and sport have been honoured for their service to communities across the country,” he said.

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