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King's Birthday Honours recognise Scots who helped female Afghan medical students
John and Lorna Norgrove are among a number of Scots on this year's King's Birthday Honours list.
A number of Scots have been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours, which are to be officially published on Saturday, June 14.
This year's list features a historian who was involved in creating the Great Tapestry of Scotland, and a Labour MSP and campaigner.
Also included are the manager of a factory which makes items for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, and a couple who set up a charity after their daughter was killed in Afghanistan.
John and Lorna Norgrove have both been made OBEs for services to women and children abroad and in Scotland.
They set up the Linda Norgrove Foundation in memory of their daughter, an aid worker who was kidnapped by the Taliban and died in an attempted rescue by US forces in October 2010.
The foundation grants to fund education, health and childcare for women and children in Afghanistan.
Recently it worked with both the Scottish and UK Governments to bring 19 female Afghan medical students to Scotland to train to continue their degrees as they were barred by the Taliban from completing their university studies in Afghanistan.
The couple said: "We are honoured to have received this recognition of the work being carried out by the Linda Norgrove Foundation.
"We are a tiny charity, mostly volunteers, who all share the same goal - to make life better for women and children in Afghanistan."
They added: "We dedicate this honour to all those brave women who remain in Afghanistan, or who have made the decision to leave their homes and families behind to move abroad and continue their studies and careers. Their struggle continues and they are the real heroes of this story.
Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy receives an MBE for political and public service.
She has been an MSP for the Glasgow region since May 2021, and is the first permanent wheelchair user elected to the Scottish Parliament.
She said: "I'm really, really proud to have been given this honour for the work that I've done in the community and for disability rights.
"It's a real honour to do this. When I got elected as an MSP, I said I was a wee working class woman in a wheelchair.
"To think that I could be a wee working class woman in a wheelchair who's also got an MBE, I just thought that was pretty special."
Historian Alistair Moffat, 74, who founded the Borders Book Festival 22 years ago, is also recognised in the list. He becomes an MBE in recognition of services to literature and culture.
He was also a key figure in the creation of The Great Tapestry of Scotland in 2010, acting as co-chairman and narrative creator, which tells the history of Scotland in visual panels, similar to the Bayeux Tapestry.
News of his MBE comes as this year's book festival takes place. Mr Moffat said: "It is just a monumental bunch of flowers to get.
"One of the reasons was for starting the Borders Book Festival, which starts on Thursday. The announcement will be in the middle of the book festival, which started 22 years ago.
"It has a big, beneficial impact on the region, and it brings in lots of visitors. The MBE has been very well-timed."
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Charles Pelling, manager of the Lady Haig Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, is made an OBE in recognition of services to veterans.
A team of disabled ex-servicemen and women make all items for the Scottish Poppy Appeal at the factory which was founded in 1926 by Lady Haig.
A social media influencer known as the Hillwalking Hijabi has also been recognised.
Zahrah Mahmood, 34, who is also president of Ramblers Scotland, receives an MBE for her contribution to voluntary service in Scotland.
She said: "If I'm being honest I'm still taking it in. I'm grateful, and I hope I can continue using whatever platform this brings to keep doing the work which matters to me and so many others."
