Community turns out to congratulate Liz receiving her BEM

Co-op manager insists award is on behalf of everyone in a team effort

The Arran community turned out in droves to congratulate Co-op store manager Liz Maclean, who was presented with her British Empire Medal (BEM) last weekend.

Liz was awarded the prestigious medal by the Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran, Sheriff Iona Sara McDonald, in recognition of her work as a frontline food retail worker for services to the Covid response.

Members of Arran’s emergency services, including the Scottish Ambulance Service, Arran Mountain Rescue, HM Coastguard and Police Scotland, also attended the ceremony in recognition of the work undertaken by Liz and the Co-op, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable who faced additional difficulties during the pandemic.

Deserving

Liz, who maintains that she is receiving the award on behalf of everyone who has been involved in the team effort, was also joined by recipients of the Co-op community fund which provides grants to deserving local groups.

Among them was the Isle of Arran Music School whose pupils performed throughout the afternoon, creating a fair atmosphere with live clarsach, ukulele and pipe music throughout the afternoon.

The Co-op itself had a raffle stall, a tombola and staff members handed out special treat bags for the children and Co-op goodie bags for the adults.

Rounding off an eventful and enjoyable afternoon, the Isle of Arran Pipe Band enthralled the visitors with a lengthy performance that, as usual, attracted a large, appreciative, crowd.

01_B39Liz09 Isle of Arran Pipe Band perform in the Co-op car park.

01_B39Liz06 Liz Maclean thanked everyone for helping to make the award possible and for everyone who attended the ceremony to congratulate her.

01_B39Liz02 Maya Maclean and Jan Murchie with a huge chocolate bar that was a prize in the raffle draw.

01_B39Liz04 Clarsach players from Isle of Arran Music School delighted the crowd with an accomplished performance.

01_B39Liz05 Attracting an appreciative audience, the Isle of Arran Music School’s pipes and drums pupils.

01_B39Liz01 Scott Harwood and beauty queen Sian Hughes at the tombola stall.

01_B39Liz07 01_B39Liz08 Sheriff Iona Sara McDonald and Liz Maclean with her BEM. Stewart Dunsmuir presents Sheriff Iona Sara McDonald and Liz Maclean with flowers after the ceremony.

01_B39Liz10 Visitors enjoy a charming performance by the Isle of Arran Music School’s ukulele players.

01_B39Liz11 Brodick Co-op visitors were treated to a number of musical performances throughout the day.

01_B39Liz03 Musicians Matthew Harkins and Scott Harwood perform for the crowd.

01_B39Liz12 Sheriff Iona Sara McDonald pins the BEM on Liz Maclean while ‘right hand man’ Carol Harwood offers her congratulations.