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Queen's Birthday Honours
13/06/2009
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Aberdeen University, Professor Charles Rice, has been awarded a Knighthood for services to Higher Education in the Queen's Birthday Honours list released today.
Professor Joan Stringer, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, is made a Dame for services to local and national Higher Education.
Among those to receive a CBE are:
- Christopher Clarke, Director of the National Gallery of Scotland, for services to the Visual Arts
- Lindsay Duncan for services to Drama
- Lindsay Montgomery, Chief Executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, for services to the Administration of Justice
Read the full list of honours
The OBE is awarded to:
- Peter Howson, for services to the Visual Arts
- James Anderson, for services to swimming
- Angus MacDonald, Director, Financial News, and Chairman, Specialist Waste Recycling, for services to the community in the Highlands
- Catherine Niven for services to Nursing and to the Allied Health Professions
- Ronald Smith, General Secretary, Educational Institute of Scotland, for services to Education
- Professor Ian Ralston, for services to Archaeology in Scotland
Read the full list of honours
Recipients of the MBE include:
- Paul Liburd for services to Dance
- Agnes Chisholm for voluntary services to Ladies' Golf
- Eileen McKiernan, Chair, Meningitis Association Scotland, for voluntary services to Healthcare
- Euan MacDonald for services to people with Motor Neurone Disease
- James Robertson for services to the Visual Arts
- Lysbeth Ramsay, School Crossing Warden, for services to the community in Uplawmoor, East Renfrewshire
Read the full list of honours
QUEEN'S POLICE MEDAL
John Geates, Director, Scottish Police College
John Neilson, Assistant Chief Constable, Strathclyde Police
QUEEN'S FIRE SERVICE MEDAL
David Hutchison, Assistant Chief Officer, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue
Joseph James Harkins, Crew Commander, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue
Brian Ritchie Hughes, Retained Watch Manager, Tayport Fire Station, Fife Fire and Rescue
Biographies:
John Geates, 46 , joined Strathclyde Police as a Constable in 1981. He has served in a number of posts, including uniformed beat officer, Crime Investigating Team Leader and Head of CID.
Mr Geates is widely respected as a highly effective senior officer, who makes a significant contribution to policing in Scotland. Responsible for the introduction of internal procedures within Strathclyde Police, Mr Geates led the creation of the Professional Standards Unit to investigate internal corrupt practice. In this capacity he has chaired national groups in relation to the introduction of corruption investigation, protocols and policies.
Leading a number of high profile investigations, Mr Geates conducted a joint external review on behalf of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS) of Police Officers and Social Workers. His investigation into Fife Constabulary and Fife Council's management of a non-registered sex offender who murdered a 16 year-old girl, resulted in 20 strategic recommendations which were all fully endorsed by the Scottish Executive.
In June 2006, Mr Geates was appointed Deputy Director of the Scottish Police College and then to his current role of Director in August 2007. In this role, he is responsible for the national co-ordination of the training and development of police officers in Scotland. He has been instrumental in the drive for a Centralised Recruitment Model and National Training Model which aims to streamline training in Scotland.
Another important part of Mr Geates work is overseeing the management of additional recruits entering the college. During 2008/09 the college saw an increase in new recruits to 1,670 compared to 675 in 2007/08. In recognition of his team's hard work, the College was awarded the United Kingdom National Training Award. He also represents the Scottish Police Service on the Board of Governors for the Leadership in Counter Terrorist Programme.
John Neilson, 50, joined Strathclyde Police in 1975 as a cadet. Progressing through the ranks, he served as a beat officer in Wishaw and Oban and was then promoted to Sergeant in 1988. Appointed to Inspector in 1994, he was part of the Investors in People implementation team and also trained as a hostage negotiator.
In 1995 Mr Neilson was appointed Chief Inspector within the personnel department and in 1998 promoted to Superintendent, transferring to Glasgow East. In this role Mr Neilson was responsible for the children and young persons safety initiative.
In his current role of Assistant Chief Constable (ACC), he holds strategic responsibility for community safety, including community policing and firearms, anti social behaviour and liquor licensing. From October 2008, Mr Neilson transferred to ACC Territorial Policing, where he is responsible for community policing and providing support to Divisional Commanders. His national responsibilities include tackling football related crime and sectarianism.
Mr Neilson has also played a pivotal role in designing and implementing a new Community Policing Model for Strathclyde Police, which has seen a doubling in the number of community officers. Widely regarded as a dedicated and consummate professional, Mr Gates has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those in the communities he serves.
David Hutchison, 53, joined Strathclyde Fire and Rescue as Assistant Chief Officer in December 2004. In this role, he managed a number of changes within the organisation, including those as a result of the Bain Review and the Heads of Agreement Pay Award, the replacement of the disciplinary and grievance procedures and the review of duty systems.
In 2006 Mr Hutchison was appointed Assistant Chief Officer, Director of Technical Services where he established a new Directorate called Training and Operational Review. During this time, he oversaw the creation of the Service's Technical Rescue School - a state of the art facility providing training for rescuing people from urban situations including trenches, silos and road traffic collisions.
Throughout his service, Mr Hutchison has encouraged the highest standards from those working with him. His drive and determination has taken the organisation forward in a number of areas. He is currently leading work for the Chief Fire Officers' Association in Scotland (CFOA(S)) with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Fire Services College to ensure that all personnel have the appropriate skills.
Outside of his work for the fire service, Mr Hutchison devotes much of his free time to the Citizens Advice Bureau, as Chair of the North Lanarkshire Citizens Advice Forum and Chair of Lanarkshire Citizens Advice Forum.
Joseph James Harkins, 53, joined Strathclyde Fire and Rescue in 1979. As well as leading by example through his work with the Fire and Rescue Service, Mr Harkins is well know for his support and work for The Fire Fighters Charity, formerly known as The Fire Services National Benevolent Fund.
In his role as Home Visitor, Mr Harkins has helped countless people who have needed financial assistance, therapy and recuperation. As a Giving Officer he has visited every Fire and Rescue Service and most Scottish fire stations to promote and raise awareness of the charity.
Mr Harkins has so far raised over £396,000 for the charity, which has helped improve services and ensure a regular income. In addition to this work, Mr Harkins also helped set up a charity for retired fire fighters - the SFR Retired Employees Association. The charity supports officers who feel socially isolated and struggle to adjust to retirement after 30 years of service. Now well established, the charity offers 700 members regular contact with old friends and colleagues, the opportunity to do voluntary and community safety work, social activities and other welfare help and advice. Mr Harkins' enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication have earned him universal respect throughout the service and beyond.
Brian Ritchie Hughes, 52, joined Tayport Fire Station, Fife Fire and Rescue Service in 1975 as a fire fighter on the retained duty system. Since then he has risen through the ranks to his current role of Watch Manager.
As well as running his own business, Mr Hughes provides emergency cover for the towns of Tayport, Newport and Wormit, along with the outlying villages in North East Fife. His station also provides back up cover when required to the neighbouring Tayside Fire and Rescue Service. Over the years, Mr Hughes and his crew have attended a number of incidents in Dundee, most notably a major fire at Morgan Academy in 2001.
Working with Fife and Tayside Fire and Rescue Services, Mr Hughes has organised joint training between the two services to promote a stronger working relationship.
Significant fire risks within Mr Hughes' area include RAF Leuchars, with its bulk fuel installations and Tentsmuir Forest. Over the years he has formed partnerships with colleagues responsible for each of these areas to improve the response levels from his own station and from Fife Fire and Rescue Service.
Mr Hughes has taken an active role in supporting staff to deliver a range of community safety initiatives within the Tayport area, including regular meetings and educational events with local nurseries and schools.
This work includes giving his time and commitment to providing local children's charity, Barnardos, with advice on fire safety. Mr Hughes also encourages colleagues from his own station to support other organisations related to the fire and rescue service, such as the Firefighters Charity and the International Fire and Rescue Association. Mr Hughes is known as being a strong role model who shows outstanding dedication to his community.