The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Prize-winner Emeli adds best gong yet to collection
Honours: Singer-songwriter made an MBE by the Queen at age of 30
She’s already the northeast’s queen of pop and Emeli Sande now has a genuine royal seal of approval.
The award-winning singer-songwriter from Alford has been recognised with an MBE in Her Majesty’s birthday honours list.
Ms Sande is only 30, but has taken the music world by storm in recent years, racking up three UK number one singles and Ivor Novello awards.
She has won four Brit Awards – scooping the coveted British Female Solo Artist prize for the second time this year. Her acclaimed album, Our Version of Events, was one of the top-selling UK releases of 2012 – the year she wowed London Olympic crowds with performances at the opening and closing ceremonies.
She moved to London in 2009 and has said that while Scotland is a “lovely” country, it “doesn’t have that cultural diversity I have always longed for”.
But while she enjoys global fame, the talented artist is no stranger to the north-east, where her parents Joel and Diane still live.
Her striking image is emblazoned across a massive protective wrap on the front of Aberdeen’s Music Hall to celebrate her role as ambassador for the venue’s multimillion-pound refurbishment.
Recently, she joined fellow north-east singing sensation Annie Lennox on a march for women’s rights – and is happy to speak her mind on political issues.
In March of this year she expressed sympathy with the campaign for a fresh independence referendum, saying wider British politics had left Scottish people feeling “insecure”. The performer has also carried out charitable work to help those suffering from cancer and HIV/Aids, as well as being part of the 2014 Do They Know It's Christmas recording to raise funds for the Ebola crisis in west Africa. A prominent member of Scotland’s curling fraternity has been recognised in the Queen’s Honours.
Retired GP Alan Stanfield has been made an MBE for his contribution to the sport over many years.
The Nairn-based doctor was heralded by sport’s governing body two years ago when he was named “technical official of the year” by sportscotland.
That was in return for his officiating at curling’s European Championships in Switzerland in 2014.
Regarded as one of the game’s most respected officials, Dr Stanfield has built a reputation as an authority in the sport.
His love for curling began more than 30 years ago.
After moving to the Highlands from Glasgow, the keen sportsman was always happy to try new sports and was invited by a friend to try his luck at Nairn Curling Club.
In 1997, after enjoyment of the game for some years, he declared he wanted to give something back to the sport and began officiating.
He has since played a part in steering the next generation of officials, sitting on the umpiring committee for the Royal Caledonian Curling Club drafting new policy and procedures.
He has run refresher courses across Scotland and rose to the heights of officiating at the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi in Russia.
“... that cultural diversity I have longed for”