The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Tayside and Fife is a diverse and special part of Scotland, but who are its most remarkable characters? Jack McKeown previews our annual Impact 100 list, which gives the lowdown on the area’s top movers and shakers The Courier’s Impact 100 of area’s top p
In 2012 The Courier’s then editor Richard Neville decided to compile a list of the most important, inspirational or influential people in Tayside and Fife.
The list of previous winners shows just how marvellously diverse Courier Country is – and how many household names call the area home.
Lorraine Kelly was placed at the top of our inaugural list after taking over as host of Daybreak, being made an OBE, and continuing to work tirelessly for charity.
The following year there could be no other winner than Andy Murray. The Dunblane tennis star ended a 77-year drought by becoming the first British player to win the Wimbledon singles title since Fred Perry.
Murray further cemented his links to this area by opening his five-star Dunblane hotel, Cromlix House.
Our top entry in 2014 looks somewhat controversial in hindsight. Gordon Brown stepped out of the political wilderness to “save the Union,” spearheading the Vow, which is credited with persuading wavering voters to remain in the UK.
Even then, whether that was a good thing or not depended on your political views. Four years on and through the lens of Brexit Mr Brown remains our most divisive winner.
In 2015 Andy Murray once again took the top spot, but this time he shared it with his big brother Jamie who helped lead Britain to Davis Cup glory.
The next year saw a spiky-haired Scottish favourite named number one. The Oor Wullie Bucket Trail – a collection of statues decorated by local artists – kept families happy for the summer as they tried to get round all 55 of them.
The auction that followed also captured the public’s imaginations, raising £883,000 for Tayside Children’s Hospital, with one statue selling for an incredible £50,000.
Finally, in 2017 Amanda Kopel was number one for her successful campaign to change dementia care with Frank’s Law, in memory of her husband, Dundee United legend Frank Kopel. This year’s judging panel was led by editor Catriona MacInnes.
Deputy editor Dave Lord; Dundee, Perth, Fife and Angus chief reporters Stefan Morkis, Jamie Buchan, Craig Smith and Graham Brown; sports editor Eric Nicolson; features editor Gillian Lord; and features writer Jack McKeown made up the rest of the panel.
Who will take this year’s coveted number one spot, and the 99 preceding it?
Find out next week in The Courier.