Honours for football executives who helped save Celtic and Hearts

The New Year’s Honours feature former Celtic executive Fergus McCann and ex-Hearts chair Ann Budge.

Among those honored are former UK defense minister Adam Ingram, New Seekers singer Eve Graham, renowned forensic scientist Prof Lorna Dawson, and Lisbon Lion Jim Craig.

Other notable figures include the founders of an island college, the chief executive of the Royal Edinburgh Botanic Garden, the chief constable of Police Scotland, and a heritage kiltmaker.

Fergus McCann, who holds the highest position in Celtic since 1994, held a five-year ownership stake there as a result of his CBE for services to the economy and to charity.

When the Stirling-born Canadian businessman paid off its debts, the Parkhead team was hours away from bankruptcy.

He later stabilized the finances of the Glasgow club by overseeing the partially funded reconstruction of Celtic Park.

Similar rescue work was performed at Hearts by Budge, who eventually becomes an OBE.

Vladimir Romanov left the club in 2013 with millions in debt, leading to the collapse of the Edinburgh club.

However, she invested $2.5 million of her own money in the Foundation of Hearts, making it the largest fan-owned club in the UK ever.

The businesswoman, who also introduced a new main stand and a living wage for staff, resigned as chair earlier this month from Hearts, the Scottish Premiership’s top executive.

Jim Craig, who eventually earns an OBE, is best known for playing for the legendary 1967 Celtic team, which was the first British team to win the European Cup.

With songs like I’d Like Teach The World To Sing, Eve Graham, who also received an OBE, and the New Seekers enjoyed worldwide success.

The band also sang the song “Britain” at the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest.

The Perth and Kinross-based singer made a tour of Europe and the US during the band’s height of success.

The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen’s Centre for Forensic Soil Science, led by Prof. Lorna Dawson, described her as “delighted and humbled” by being given a damehood.

The expert has spent more than three decades studying plant and soil interactions, with an emphasis on how the latter can be applied in the criminal justice system.

In some of Scotland’s most notorious murder cases, Prof. Dawson has provided evidence.

These include the convictions of Angus Sinclair and William MacDowell for the deaths of Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son in 1976, as well as Iain Packer’s trial for Emma Caldwell’s 2005 murder.

The mother-of-three remarked, “This award recognizes the potential of scientific innovation, partnership, and how forensic soil science can advance justice on both domestic and international levels.

The Royal Edinburgh Botanic Garden’s CEO, however, described receiving the knighthood as an “immense honor” as he prepares to retire.

For his contributions to botany, conservation, and horticulture, Simon Milne, whose official title is regius keeper, has won praise.

After 166 years, the former Royal Marine Commando, who was visiting Queen Victoria’s eldest son, Albert, planted the tallest tree in Edinburgh, declared to BBC Scotland in January that he was “devastated.”

Sir Simon claims that his interest in plants was first discovered in 1970 when his uncle returned seeds from the Far East and gave a volunteer service at a nearby nature reserve.

He stated, “These early experiences fueled my lifelong interest in nature and commitment to conservation,”

It’s very meaningful to me to receive this award as I retire from such a remarkable community.

Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour was the only other regius keeper to be knighted since 1670 when the garden first appeared.

He was honored for “services in connection with the war” in the 1920 civilian war honors list.

Adam Ingram, a former Labour MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven, and Lesmahagow, was knighted for his parliamentary and political service elsewhere.

From 1997 to 2001, Sir Adam served as the minister of the armed forces and the security of Northern Ireland.

He had been the longest-serving defense minister in the Ministry of Defense’s history when he resigned from that position in 2007.

Dr. Anneliese Dodds, the Labour MP for Oxford East, has also received praise.

The politician, who was born in Aberdeen, has been made a dame.

Lady Rae, a senior judge and lawyer, was named a CBE for her contributions to Scottish law, charity, and education.

The King’s Police Medal (KPM), according to Scotland’s top police officer, is “honoured and grateful.”

Since 2023, Police Scotland has been under the leadership of Chief Constable Jo Farrell, a former leader of Durham Constabulary.

The KPM will also be presented to former assistant chief constable Andy Freeburn and former chief superintendent of the police, Stevie Dolan.

These awards are in recognition of the hard work and dedication of officers and staff who serve their communities and protect Scotland, according to Farrell.

For her contributions to Scottish craftsmanship, Marion Foster, the College of Master Kilt Tailors, was awarded an MBE.

She continued to read the letter after it was received, “I was stunned, and it brought tears to my eyes.”

For their contributions to education, social inclusion, and people with additional support needs, Roland Engebretsen and Rebecca Lindsay, the co-founders of Macaulay College, near Stornoway in Lewis, have both received MBEs.

On Mr. Engebretsen’s grandfather’s farm, the artists and educators built their college in 2010.

On the farm, goats, sheep, ponies, and chickens are available for adults with additional support needs.

Engebretsen said the letter, which had just arrived in the letterbox, initially stung with him because he was initially suspicious of it.

It appeared to be written in a very official manner. He said, “I assumed I was in trouble.”

I’m glad it wasn’t, I said. A lovely surprise, I think.

Rebecca Lindsay, she was “to find out. She was completely overwhelmed.