Knighthood for top medic leads Edinburgh and Lothians in King’s Birthday Honours

From a trailblazing medical scientist to a champion of Scotland’s literary heritage, the unsung heroes and leading lights of Edinburgh and the Lothians have been celebrated in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.

Leading the local list is University of Edinburgh academic Professor Sir Andrew Morris, who receives a knighthood for his services to medical sciences, public health, and patient care. Sir Andrew, who heads Health Data Research UK, praised the “extraordinary strength of medical science,” adding: “When we do that well, we can make a real and lasting difference to patients’ lives, to the public good and to the wider economy.”

The region’s cultural sector is also strongly represented. Former National Library of Scotland librarian Dr Ann Matheson is made a CBE for her lifelong services to literature. Insisting the recognition is really a “tribute to Scotland’s writers and poets,” she is joined by Edinburgh’s own Allison Gardner, Chief Executive of Glasgow Film, who becomes a CBE for her services to cinema.

Surgeon Vittoria Bucknall earned a BEM for services to sick children. | Supplied

Also recognised at the CBE level is Paul David Nisbet for his work developing assistive technology at Edinburgh University. In healthcare, Professor Andrew Tyler Elder receives an OBE, while Vittoria Bucknall, who treated children injured in the Southport knife attack, and Musselburgh's Francis Peter Cusack have earned BEMs for their dedication to sick children.

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Behind the scenes, dedicated public servants have been commended. Holyrood staff members Judith Ann Morrison and Iain Clark receive an OBE and MBE respectively, alongside Scottish Government officials Joanna Elizabeth Keating, Pauline Helen Margaret Lamb Aylesbury, and Andrea Kinver.

In the community, Lasswade’s Samantha-Louise Gough receives an MBE for services to sport and the visually impaired. She is joined by equestrian champion Debbie-Anne Henderson, adaptive cycling advocate Roy Michael Thomas, and conservation experts Timothy Hall and Keith Chalmers-Watson, rounding off a remarkable year of local achievement.

The full list of Edinburgh and Lothians recipients in the King’s Birthday Honours:

KNIGHTS BACHELOR

Professor Andrew David Morris CBE FRSE FMedSci. Director of Health Data Research UK and Vice-Principal, University of Edinburgh. For services to Medical Sciences, to Public Health and to Patient Care. (Perth, Perth and Kinross)

ORDERS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Allison Gardner. Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow Film. For services to Film and Cinema in Scotland. (Edinburgh)

Dr Ann Matheson OBE. Lately Keeper, National Library of Scotland. For services to Literature and Culture. (Edinburgh)

Paul David Nisbet. Director of Communication Access Literacy and Learning Scotland, School of Education and Sport, Edinburgh University. For services to Education and the Development of Assistive Technology. (Edinburgh)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Susan Joan Dawe. Scotland Managing Partner, EY. For services to Financial Services. (Edinburgh)

Professor Andrew Tyler Elder. Lately President, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. For services to Medicine and to Medical Education. (Edinburgh)

Graeme Ross Fraser. Assistant Inspector, HM Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland. For services to the Scottish Government and to the Fire and Rescue Service. (Edinburgh)

Timothy Hall. Head of Estates and Programmes. Woodland Trust Scotland, Chair, Future Woodlands Scotland and Trustee, Borders Forest Trust. For services to Conservation and to Forestry. (Edinburgh)

Joanna Elizabeth Keating. Head of International Development, Scottish Government. For services to International Development. (Edinburgh)

Judith Ann Morrison. Solicitor, to the Scottish Parliament. For services to the Scottish Parliament. (Edinburgh)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Pauline Helen Margaret Lamb Aylesbury. Deputy Director, Marketing, Insight, Brand Scotland and Internal Communications, Scottish Government. For Public Service. (Edinburgh)

Keith Chalmers-Watson. Life Member and lately Chair of World Pheasant Association. For services to Wild Bird Research and Conservation. (North Berwick, East Lothian)

Iain Clark DL. Intranet Manager, Scottish Parliament. For services to the Scottish Parliament. (Musselburgh, East Lothian)

Samantha-Louise Gough. For services to Sport and to the Visually Impaired Community. (Lasswade, Midlothian)

Debbie-Anne Henderson. Yard Manager, Tower Farm Riding School. For services to Equestrianism and to the community in Edinburgh and the South of Scotland. (Edinburgh)

Andrea Kinver. Strategy and Insight Lead, Scottish Government. For Public Service. (Edinburgh)

Roy Michael Thomas. Chair, Adaptive Riders Collective. For services to Adaptive Cycling in Scotland. (Edinburgh)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Vittoria Bucknall. Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon, Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. For services to Children and Young People. (Edinburgh)

Francis Peter Cusack. For services to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh. (Musselburgh, East Lothian)