New Year’s Honours for Argyll and the islands
A host of people from Argyll and the islands have been honoured in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List. Among those receiving awards are former Scottish Rugby president Dee Bradbury, SAMS scientist Christine Campbell and Colonsay postmaster Keith Rutherford.
A scientist at Oban’s Scottish Association for Marine Science is among those from Argyll and the islands featured in 2021’s New Year’s Honours list.
Also included in the list is former Scottish Rugby president Dee Bradbury, a Scottish traditional music stalwart and Colonsay’s postmaster.
Getting an MBE was SAMS scientist Christine Campbell in recognition of her dedication to Europe’s largest living Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP).
Christine, who is also a trade union stalwart at SAMS and has been a Guide leader in North Connel since 2000, more recently taking on the role as District Commissioner for North Lorn, said her nomination was a surprise. ‘I was unaware I had been nominated. When I first heard about the recognition I felt undeserving to be singled out for such an accolade as I am always part of a team. I think of this honour as a reflection of the contributions made by my team workers in CCAP, the Prospect union and Girlguiding Argyll, as all three areas of my activity were part of the case made,’ she said.
Dee Bradbury was awarded her OBE for services to rugby. An OBE also went to Argyll and Bute Council’s chief education officer and head of education service, Anne Sally Paterson from Minard.
Captain Barbara Campbell from Dunoon gets an MBE for her work with vulnerable people as master of the charity Jubilee Sailing Trust.
Accordionist and former Oban Times columnist Fergie MacDonald from Acharacle also received an MBE for his services to Scottish Traditional Music.
Catherine Paterson, founder of the Dochas Fund at Lochgilphead, receives an MBE for her services to Healthcare and Social Care in Argyll and Bute. And postmaster Keith John Desmond Rutherford is awarded a BEM for his services to Colonsay and neighbouring Oronsay.
Mr Rutherford said he was ‘highly honoured’ and so was the island to get a mention which ‘was rather nice’ he added.
Mr Rutherford was a former British Rail worker before going to Colonsay. He started the post office job on the island in 1978.
In 1985 a vacancy came up for a postman on the island and he took on the role until retiring two years ago.
‘I’m still churning out stamps from the post office counter though,’ he said, happy to be getting lots of verbal congratulations from customers.
On Monday he said: ‘We’ve not had any post arrive on the island since the honour was announced, so there’s been no cards yet, although we might get a boat in today.’
As for a celebration, he said: ‘I think we’ll have to wait until things get back to being as normal as they can be for any celebrating. It’s been strange times since Covid appeared.’