Former Moderator Appointed CBE

Tuesday June 12 2018

The first female Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been made a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Dr Alison Elliot (above), the former Associate Director of the Centre for Theology and Public Issues at the University of Edinburgh, received the honour for public service. She had previously received an OBE and in 2016 was the third person to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Scottish Public Service Awards.

In public life, she was a member of the Christie Commission looking at the delivery of Scotland’s public services, convened the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and chaired the Land Reform Review Group. She is also General Secretary of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Dr Elliot, who was Moderator in 2004, said today: “I've been tremendously lucky in the chances that have come my way to get involved in worthwhile activities with some remarkable people.

“I've enjoyed my work and seen it as a privilege, so to be awarded a CBE for it is a real bonus.”

Also in the Honours List, which marked the Queen’s 92^nd birthday, there were several awards for services to the uniformed organisations in Scotland.

Diane Ross (right) of Edinburgh was made an MBE for services to the Scouting movement and community in Edinburgh. Diane has been involved with the Scouts and Cubs since 1963, and is currently leading the group at Blackhall St Columba’s Parish Church, where she is a member. She said: “I don’t think I’ve actually come down to Earth yet, even though I’ve known for six weeks.

“When I got the letter from St James’s Palace I actually thought it was a hoax and phoned them, and after a few questions the gentleman said ‘Madam, I can assure you it’s true’. It’s a great honour but I still can’t really believe it’s happened to me.”

Her ‘career’ with the Cubs has included stints as District Commissioner and Deputy District Commissioner, and she says she has retired three times only to be asked to come back. “I have made lots of good friends, worked with lots of nice people, and the kids are absolutely wonderful,” she adds.

Sandra MacDonald, captain of the 34^th Glasgow Girls’ Brigade, was also made an MBE for services to the Brigade and Govan and Linthouse Parish Church. She said: “I was absolutely shocked when I received the letter.

“I was home alone at the time and I just sat down and cried.

“It was a nice shock, quite overwhelming really.”

Katherine McMath, County president of Girlguiding West Lothian, was made an OBE; and there was a BEM for Jenny Gray for services to the Scouting movement and the community in Newmachar and Aberdeen.

Professor Andrew Calder, the chair of Scotland’s Churches Trust, has been made MBE for services to obstetrics and gynaecology. Professor Calder is retired from the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, and also chairs Tenovus Scotland, a charity supporting young researchers in medical science.

Charlotte Weir, a volunteer at Glasgow City Mission, was awarded a BEM for voluntary service. The Mission posted on its Facebook page that Charlotte travels from the Isle of Arran every Friday to serve in its Urban café.

Derek Scott, former treasurer at Arbroath: St Andrew's and honorary president of Angus, Fife and Perthshire Royal British Legion Scotland was awarded a BEM for voluntary service to ex-service personnel.

*If you know of anyone with a Church of Scotland connection named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, please contact us on magazine@lifeandwork.org

Post Tags: honours list

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