The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Eco Grandad plays big
Apassionate community gardener in the Highlands known to children as “Eco Grandad” has earned himself a British Empire Medal.
Green-fingered Thomas Lincoln Thomas, known locally as Tom Tom, has been an integral part of village life in Maryburgh, near Dingwall, for 19 years.
The 80-year-old, who is originally from Edinburgh, moved to the north to be close to his daughter when she joined the police.
However, he has since made the village his home by throwing himself into all aspects of the community.
Through the lockdowns he befriended various people to lift their spirits while also volunteering at the local hospice.
His main passion is gardening though, with much of his time spent tending to the local community garden, strimming grass or maintaining other beauty spots to ensure the village is always looking its best.
Mr Thomas said: “I’ve taken the kids at Ben Wyvis Primary School for gardening lessons for the last six or seven years – they call me Eco Grandad.
“It’s a shame I haven’t been able to do it as much with the Covid.”
Despite helping out at home and overseas for years through voluntary work, Oyne resident Penny Shepherd said she was “absolutely gobsmacked” to receive a BEM.
The 60-year-old plans to celebrate the recognition for service to the Duke of Edinburgh Award in Aberdeenshire and The Gambia over dinner with her husband and daughter.
Talking about her volunteering experience, she said: “I’ve had a ball.”
Mrs Shepherd began her work with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards 18 years ago through the Rangers and Guides groups in Insch.
She then took on the part-time post of Duke of Edinburgh co-ordinator at Meldrum Academy.
Following the success of the scheme through the school, she set up an award group in Inverurie to allow more people to get involved.
She said: “We set it up through my church, St Mary’s, who also let us use the hall for free, and got more volunteers involved. It was great to spread the word and give more people the opportunity to take part in the awards.
“It’s great fun for kids, but it also helps them to grow as people and realise what they can achieve.”
Bringing his love of music to the world earns Paul Anderson an MBE for his services to Scottish fiddle tradition and charity.
The 51-year-old, from Tarland, has travelled the world as a musician and tutor for more than 20 years and has also enjoyed success as a musical director and composer.
He said the news came “totally out of the blue” and that it still feels unreal after finding out a few weeks ago.
“It was a total surprise but very exciting, it’s nice to be acknowledged and to see traditional Scottish music being recognised,” Mr Anderson said.
Travelling in a different sense is behind the MBE granted to Aberdeen engineer Gordon Mills. He designed easy low-access buses to transform the lives of millions of people with disabilities across the world.
The 72-year-old was director of engineering for Grampian Regional Transport and was responsible for spearheading staff and vehicle safety, maintenance and training.
Among the innovations he brought in included new materials to make the vehicles more resistant to fires.
But he also engineered and designed the first easy low-access buses and other vehicles that are now common-place in Aberdeen and across the world.
He said: “I could see the way things were going with the need for accessibility, I saw they were needed, which has turned out to be right with the way things have gone.”