King's Birthday Honours 2025: List of recipients from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Six people have been given honours by King Charles III for their outstanding contributions to their communities.
has been awarded a BEM for services to older people within Grampian.
, a dedicated volunteer, has been recognised for services to the Gordon Highlanders Museum and to the Royal British Legion.
Mr Glennie was on the beaches during D-Day and is the sole survivor of the Gordon Highlanders.
, a talented musician, began playing the accordion at the age of 10.
An accordionist in Jack Sinclair's Scottish band for 30 years, he has played annually for the Ghillies Ball hosted by the late Queen at Balmoral.
He joined the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society 30 years ago and has never looked back, pursuing his passion for music.
He has been awarded for his services to music and culture.
served as Port of Aberdeen chairman for eight years.
He has been made an MBE for services to the maritime sector and to charity.
The Port of Aberdeen will be thrust onto the world stage during next month's Tall Ships Races.
has been a volunteer in her community in Mearns and has been awarded for her hard work.
, a paramedic with the Scottish Ambulance Service, has been recognised for services to healthcare and charity.
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The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Irvine Welsh documentary was a fitting end to close the EIF
Irvine Welsh is full of stories, one reason he is such a prolific author. He isn't short of anecdotes, either, or of opinions. These range from politics to what he mockingly refers to as his 'practice', in other words his approach to fiction writing. But he also has the raconteur's gift of delivery and – whisper it – a whiff of the public intellectual to him. God knows we need that breed these days. Throw in his oeuvre (another term he probably hates) and his authorship of the most iconic Scottish novel of the last 30 years, and you can see why he is such a rich subject for a documentary. Unsurprisingly there have been a few to date. But Edinburgh-based film-maker Paul Sng's is undoubtedly the best, making it a welcome and fitting work to bring down the curtain on this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival. Artful, considered, imaginative, rewarding, though-provoking and pleasingly high concept, it avoids dwelling too much on past glories to foreground its subject in the present. Read More: We open, though, with a sort of career précis. It comes courtesy of clips from an onstage interview conducted at a Toronto literary festival by Welsh's fellow Edinburgh-er Michael Pedersen, fast approaching national treasure status himself. Still in Canada, we then see Welsh visit the offices of a couple of lifestyle/therapy gurus in order to take hallucinogenic drug Dimethyltryptamine. Known as DMT – or, sometimes, the businessman's drug, because the trip it induces can be had in a lunch-break – it offers Welsh a break from the reality which he says is 'not enough' for a writer and from which Sng takes his intriguing title. Having brusquely headed off some therapy-speak 'bullshit' from the shaven-headed wellness dudes – just give me the drug is Welsh's simple request – he takes to a mattress to enjoy the experience. We return to him there throughout, Sng using this as a framing device and as a slipway to launch the free-wheeling sequences in which Welsh, dressed in white suit and t-shirt, wanders through an abandoned factory as images and colours are projected onto him and the walls. These sequences are trippy and psychedelic, and have the effect of making it look as if he is in some liminal space, or is being invited to amble through a dream version of his own life. Much of the projections show old footage of Edinburgh, causing the author to reflect on his early life, the death of his parents, his use of drugs, his reasons for first picking up a pen. 'I wouldn't have been a writer if it hadn't been for Acid House,' he says at one point. Sng also drops in excerpts from Welsh's novels, accompanied by even trippier visuals. The obliging readers include Liam Neeson (a passage from The Acid House), Stephen Graham (Glue), Maxine Peake (Porno), Ruth Negga (Dead Men's Trousers) and, last, an unspecified voice with a very slight Australian lilt. Could it be? It is: Nick Cave, reading from The Blade Artist. Too much of this would be, well, too much, so interspersed with the curated readings and the jazzy visuals are more prosaic sections. We see Welsh and his wife Emma at Traquair House in the Borders following a book festival event. We watch him play football with childhood friends in Muirhouse, at the ground of Lowland League football club Civil Service Strollers, then chatting easily with them in the bar afterwards. We see him in LA with his manager, at his house in Miami, and at the boxing club he frequents there. Sng controls and presents his material well, though it's Welsh's own observations, thoughts and opinions which really drive the film. Some are just wryly humorous. 'Married to me? I think it would be a hard shift,' he says, the only time he answers an off-screen question. Others are more reflective. 'Writing ... is essentially a square go with yourself,' he says. Then, later: 'You steal from your own life. You're constantly putting fangs in your own fucking neck.' And: 'The most important resource you have is time. I basically retired 30 years ago, I've just been indulging myself since.' But it's one of his post-trip comments which lingers most in the mind. 'I'm no longer an atheist,' he says. 'It makes dying a more exciting thing than a thing to dread.' No sign of that yet, though – it's very much a life and an appetite for life which Paul Sng's commendable documentary celebrates and explores.
Press and Journal
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- Press and Journal
Exclusive: How superfast broadband could turbocharge Belladrum Festival
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Press and Journal
5 hours ago
- Press and Journal
Moray TikTok star with 390k followers shines a light on cerebral palsy
A rising Moray TikTok star has been recognised by the Scottish Parliament for his work to raise understanding of cerebral palsy. Craig Duncan lives with the condition every day and his 'CraigTok' page documents its challenges and how he overcomes them. The 22-year-old started his TikTok account a couple of years ago for fun, with no idea how it would grow. He recalls switching his first viral video between public and private because he was 'nervous about negative comments'. But since then, the young man from Fochabers has amassed approaching 400,000 followers on the social media platform. He has received messages of love and support from around the world – and now his efforts have been applauded at Holyrood. The parliament heard glowing praise for Craig thanks to a motion put forward by Karen Adam, who is the SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast. She commended Craig for his impactful use of TikTok to raise awareness and understanding of cerebral palsy. The Scottish Parliament praised his courage, humour and honesty in sharing his experience, and wished him continued success in his advocacy. Speaking to the Press and Journal, Ms Adam said: 'Craig's work is nothing short of inspirational. 'He has created a space where people with cerebral palsy can feel seen, valued and uplifted. 'At the same time, he's opening minds in wider society, helping to break down stigma and build understanding. 'I'm so proud to commend him in Parliament and I wish him every success as he continues this important work of advocacy and awareness raising.' When asked how it felt to be recognised by the Scottish Parliament for his work, Craig said, 'It's an honour. 'I've had so many messages from people saying I've helped them. 'The reason I share my story is because it helps them as much as it does myself.' Throughout his journey, Craig's family have been his biggest fans. 'My family have been the driving force in helping me with my mental health,' he said. 'A couple of years ago I was in a really bad spot, but with their support and help through college, I started to get better.' Craig's dad, Allan Duncan, has been by his side every step of the way. He says seeing the difference TikTok has made to his son has been 'incredible.' 'I think putting his thoughts out there has helped Craig process things for himself, while also helping others,' Allan said. 'Social media can be a great thing, but there are negatives too. 'That's why I always say, if you're going to put yourself out there, make sure you've got strong support. 'That's what we try to give him. 'And by the way, having over 380,000 followers hasn't changed him. 'He's still the same Craig who forgets to put the dishes in the dishwasher.' The beauty of Craig's content is its honesty. He's not afraid to share his physical struggles and difficult moments with his mental health, breaking down the stigma that often surrounds them. Craig maintains a positive mindset in life, and it shines through in the way he presents himself in his videos. He said: 'I've always thought my condition could have been worse. 'I could have ended up in a wheelchair or without a voice. 'I've been fortunate.' Craig concludes with a powerful reflection, 'It took me a long time to come to terms with my disability. 'For years I thought 'I'm disabled and my name is Craig'. 'But now I see it differently. My name is Craig and I happen to have a disability.'
