Locals honoured by the Queen

Donald MacLeod from Linlithgow, who is chairman of Nordoff Robbins music therapy’s Scottish fundraising and events committee, has been appointed an MBE for his services in music and charity.

For the past 23 years, Donald has been an integral part and driving force of Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, previously being both the co-chair of the board of management and chairman of fundraising.

He is also responsible for the Scottish Music Awards (SMAs) and owns Glasgow nightclubs, The Garage and the Cathouse Rock Club.

On being awarded an MBE for services to Music and Charity, Donald said: “I am delighted and quite humbled at being chosen to receive such a distinguished accolade.

“Music has been my life’s work and passion, and throughout most of my career Nordoff Robbins and the fantastic work it carries out in Scotland has been a great source of pride and inspiration.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in the charity: the beneficiaries, the therapists, fellow board and committee members, fundraisers and all those who nominated me.

“I regard this award as a deserved recognition of their hard work, fortitude and endeavour, and of course support, which has been as vital as it has been valued.”

Speaking about his family, Donald added: “I would also like to thank my wonderful wife Pauline and our fantastic family for all their encouragement and support over the years, which I could not have done without.

“News of this award has also been music to the ears of my mother Margaret, who tragically lost her son Calum, my younger brother, at the beginning of the pandemic, but who is now beaming from ear to ear. These are dark times for us all, but this fantastic news has raised our spirits and brightened everyone up.”

Six-time taekwondo world champion Julia Cross, who runs the South Queensferry School of Taekwondo, was also awarded an MBE, for services to the sport she loves.

She said: “I’m absolutely over the moon. I have known for a while but obviously I couldn’t say anything. I tried to put it to the back of my mind, with everything going on at the moment.

“I’m delighted for my family and my students to get recognised in this way. It came as a massive shock. My students are absolutely thrilled, it will be a big boost for everybody, it’s happy news.”

Julia has been involved in the sport for 45 years.

Having run the school for 22 years,the past 10 years at its current home at the Loan, she revealed how tough 2020 has been, adding: “We opened up again on August 31, after previously having to do Zoom call classes, so it was really great to get back into the hall recently.

“Now, we can still do under 18 classes but not adults.”

Other local MBE recipients included: Charles Ian Bryden from South Queensferry, chairman of Wooden Spoon Scotland Region, for services to charity and rugby; Scottish Parliament security projects manager Philip Edward Horwood from South Queenferry, for parliamentary service; and Philpstoun Network Rail employee Simon Constable for services to the rail industry during Covid-19.