MBE for Paralympian Owen

AFife Paralympian has been made an MBE for his services to athletics at an investiture ceremony.

T20 athlete Owen Miller was one of around 70 people honoured by the Princess Royal at the Palace of Holyroodhouse as part of Royal Week.

The Dunfermline-born sportsman, who won a Paralympic gold medal in the Tokyo Games in 2021, said: “It was good – I was quite nervous, but it was good when I got up there.

“I just held my posture and confidence.

“I have an amazing group who keep me going at training, keeps me where I want to be.

“I want to say thanks to my coach and my gran for helping me up and my whole family for helping me throughout the hard times and lockdown and Covid and all sorts.”

Meanwhile, a master blender said he hoped his father was “looking down” and seeing him become an OBE for his services to the Scotch whisky industry.

Richard Paterson, known as “the Nose” and who works for Whyte and Mackay Ltd, followed in his father’s footsteps as a master blender.

He said it was “a wonderful achievement”, adding: “I wish my father, who was a master blender like me all those years ago, I wish he was perhaps looking down right now and be proud of what we have achieved together.”

When asked what he had in mind to celebrate the occasion, he replied: “A dram will be very much part of that, with my family.

“My dram of choice will be Whyte & Mackay, Dalmore, Fettercairn, Tamnavulin or Jura, these are all part of my world.”

Ross Mcewan, former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, was made a CBE for his services to the financial sector.

Speaking after the ceremony, he said: “When I was advised I was getting a CBE I said it was always a team effort and the team did an amazing job to turn the bank around.”

Former chief nursing officer for the Scottish Government Fiona Mcqueen was honoured for her services to the NHS.

Speaking after being made a CBE, she said: “It was a real privilege to meet her (Anne) and speak to her and see her interest in what happened in the pandemic.

“It was really helpful and

touching to have that conversation with her, how difficult the pandemic had been and the role that nurses across the country

had played, but not just nurses... all of the workforce that contributed to it.”

Fiona said the day brought “a tinge of sadness

as well, thinking and reflecting on what happened, and how we managed to get through the pandemic”.

HONOUR: Gold medallist Owen Miller after receiving his MBE from the Princess Royal.