OBE for Dee Bradbury, the first female president of Scottish Rugby

Dee Bradbury, the first female president of the Scottish Rugby Union, has been awarded an OBE for services to the sport.

Dee Bradbury: OBE for services to rugby.

Her inclusion in the New Year’s Honours’ list comes at the end of a tumultuous year for the former police detective.

In the summer she collapsed at home and suffered a cardiac arrest, surviving only due to the life-saving CPR applied by her husband, Nick, and a neighbour, Lindsay Vare.

She had to undergo surgery but is continuing to make a good recovery, having spent Christmas Day with Nick and sons Magnus, the Scotland forward, and Fergus, the former Scotland age-grade forward, at their home in Oban.

Peter Dawson: CBE for services to golf.

Bradbury, who stepped down as SRU president in August after serving her two-year term, said: “I was absolutely over the moon when I heard I was being awarded the OBE. It feels just now like one of the only positive things to come out of 2020.

“At first, I thought it might be a scam or a wind-up but once the family had checked it all over – and they didn’t believe it at first either – then I’d spoken to a member of staff, I was convinced it was legitimate!

“I see it very much as recognition for our rugby community in Scotland. You know, standing on touchlines on wet and windy nights, driving my sons to training and matches, washing the mini-rugby strips.

“That’s all been part of the journey and is very much the ethos of rugby in Scotland, where the sport is about so much more than just the 15 men or 15 women on the park.

“I was immensely proud to become the first female president of a Tier 1 union and to represent Scotland on Rugby Europe.”

Bradbury took up rugby at the age of 38 after her athletics career finished and helped found the women’s team of Oban Lorne.

Mark Dodson, the SRU chief executive, said: “From myself and everyone at Scottish Rugby we are delighted for Dee, who was a fantastic ambassador for Scottish Rugby. After what has been a challenging year this is a very welcome acknowledgment for her role within rugby in Scotland over many years.”

There was a CBE in the New Year Honours for Peter Dawson, the former chief executive of the R&A, for services to golf. Aberdeen-born Dawson was appointed secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and chief executive of the R&A in May 1999, succeeding Sir Michael Bonallack. He retired in 2015.

In 2009, as the joint secretary of the International Golf Federation, Dawson led the successful bid to restore golf to the programme of Olympic sports after an absence of 112 years.

Other Scots honoured include regional swimming development manager Colleen Blair of Aberfeldy who will receive an MBE for services to the sport.

Cupar’s Robert Dick, head coach of Scottish Disability Bowls, also receives on MBE, for services to disability sport

Sophie Dunnett, of Reay, Caithness, is recognised with a British Empire Medal for services to amateur athletics in Scotland. Jennifer McArtney of Monifieth, Angus, receives the same award for services to squash.

David Adamson, honorary chieftain of the Burntisland Highland Games, is awarded the British Empire Medal for services to athletics and to the community in the Fife town.

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