Friday June 16 2017
The Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood in Tarik Samir’s Gallery in Sarajevo. Picture by John Young.
A former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been made an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
The Very Rev Dr Lorna Hood has been recognised for her ‘exceptional and long service to the Church of Scotland and promoting tolerance and understanding’ through raising awareness of the Srebrenica massacre.
Dr Hood, who lives in Paisley with her husband Peter, said she was ‘gobsmacked’ but delighted with the award.
She first visited Srebrenica in 2013 when she was Moderator, visiting the site of the massacre where 8000 people were killed, and met the mothers of some of the victims. On her return, she helped found the Scottish Board of Remembering Srebrenica, to raise awareness about the worst atrocity on European soil since World War Two.
She said: “I am gobsmacked and totally taken aback that I have been made an OBE. I am slightly embarrassed to be honest but it is an honour and a privilege to the chair of the board.
“I am dedicating the award to the Mothers of Srebrenica, an amazing group, and those who bravely talk about the rape camps.
“It is an immense privilege to be able to take people out to Screbrenica to meet with survivors and hear their stories. It is so important that we share them in Scotland to tackle hatred and intolerance because if genocide can happen there, it can happen everywhere.”
Dr Hood retired as minister of Renfrew Parish Church after 37 years last October. She is also one of the Queen’s personal chaplains in Scotland, and chairwoman of charity YouthLink Scotland.
Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, sent her congratulations on the award. She said: “I’m absolutely delighted to hear that Lorna is to receive an OBE.
“Like countless other Scots, it is through Lorna’s efforts that I was able to personally visit the Potocari Memorial Cemetery and have been inspired to help raise awareness of the 1995 genocide.
“But her wider commitment to Scottish society over many years – to giving our young people a brighter future, and to building a constructive, respectful dialogue between people of diverse backgrounds – is an inspiration to all of us.
“After a long and distinguished career in the service of others, this OBE is a thoroughly deserved award - and Lorna has my sincerest congratulations.”
The long-serving editor of Life and Work’s Gaelic Supplement, the Rev Dr Roddy MacLeod, has been made an MBE.
Dr MacLeod, who is 76, said he was ‘surprised and flattered’ to be informed of the honour, which is for services to Gaelic and the community.
He has edited Na Duilleagan Gàidhlig since 1980, only the fifth man to hold the position since it was founded in January 1880.
Dr MacLeod said: “I think the Supplement’s been very important over the years, and it still is. People use it, not just to read but it’s used in Gaelic classes. It still has an important role to play."
A native of North Uist, he began his ministry on the island of Bernera – “When it was still an island; it’s got a causeway now,” he says – before moving on to Cumlodden, Lochfyneside and Lochgair, in Argyll and Bute, where he stayed until retirement in 2011. He still lives in the area with his wife, Jean.
Lynne McNeil, editor of Life and Work, said: “I am delighted to hear of the recognition for Roddy's unstinting contribution and commitment to the Gaelic language through his long-standing and fruitful work with the Gaelic Supplement of Life and Work. It is an honour that is richly deserved and demonstrates the respect and esteem in which he is held by Scottish Gaels."
Gaelic-speaking former Moderator of the General Assembly, the Very Rev Dr Angus Morrison, said: “The announcement today of the award of an MBE to the Rev Dr Roderick Macleod will give enormous pleasure to his many friends throughout the Church and the Gaelic community. Over many years, Dr Macleod has served with distinction and grace in a variety of roles.
“To many, he is best known for his contribution, in various contexts, though the medium of Gaelic.
“An outstanding scholar, communicator and preacher in the language, his work demonstrates both love for the Gaidhealtachd and extensive knowledge of its history, Dr Macleod’s editorship of Na Duilleagan Gàidhlig over many years has been highly effective.
“The sheer variety of interesting material included, both written and visual, together with his ability and concern to engage experienced readers and learners of Gaelic alike, have given the magazine a distinctive blas (‘flavour’), and won the grateful appreciation of his readers.
“As Dr Macleod retires from this role, I am delighted to see his long and distinguished service recognised in this way.
“The whole Church is in his debt. This is an honour richly deserved.”
Tributes were paid to Dr MacLeod at this year’s General Assembly, which recognised ‘with sincere appreciation [his] outstanding contribution’. The convener of the Mission and Discipleship Council, the Rev Norman Smith, said he had been ‘nothing short of brilliant’.
Isle of Lewis minister the Rev Hugh Stewart said the supplement was: “A great work, greatly appreciated by those who receive it.”
A Lanarkshire church elder and former Boys’ Brigade Captain has been awarded the British Empire Medal.
Jimmy Anderson (right), 88, has been given the honour for a lifetime of voluntary service to the village of Stonehouse.
Mr Anderson was brought up in the East End of Glasgow, but moved to Stonehouse in the 1950s after marriage to a local girl, May. Not long after his arrival, he volunteered as an Officer in the recently formed Boys’ Brigade Company, becoming Captain soon afterwards – a position he held for over 60 years. In 2008, to mark his long and distinguished service to the Boys’ Brigade, he was appointed an Honorary Vice President of the Hamilton Battalion.
He was ordained an Elder of Stonehouse Church while still in his early 20s. he also served as the congregation’s Presbytery representative and, as a result, was involved in the wider work of the Church of Scotland including representing the congregation at the General Assembly. In 2014 he was honoured for 60 years’ service by the Church of Scotland.
In his later years, Jimmy became involved in the Stonehouse Senior Citizens Group where he was elected President and Chairperson. He held the position for over 20 years and has only recently retired from the role.
In his fifties he decided to take up running, and in the 25 years which followed, he participated in many marathons, half marathons and similar races where he raised funds for local and national charities. Among those to benefit were Guide Dogs for the Blind, Cancer Research and Stonehouse Hospital.
In 1999 he was one of the first recipients of the South Lanarkshire Council Community Service Award, in recognition of his outstanding service to the community of Stonehouse and District.
If you know of anyone else with a church connection who appears in the Honours List, please let us know on 0131 225 5722, magazine@lifeandwork.org
Post Tags: honours list, lorna hood, gaelic supplement, roddy macleod
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