Former Highland Councillor and staff among Highland awards in New Year Honours List 2021

Five people in The Highland Council area have been awarded in the Queen’s New Year Honour’s list for their services in health, community care, sport and athletics and response to their communities during COVID-19 response.

Highland Council Convener Cllr Bill Lobban said: “I congratulate all Highland recipients of the Queen’s New Year Honours this year for their services and commitment among their communities.

“To have been nominated for their honours they have been recognised by those that they live and work with among their communities and have clearly demonstrated their continued and outstanding commitment to serving and helping others making their lives better for them.”

The Highland recipients are:

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Charles David McQuistan Flear. For services to Health, Community Care and to the community in Caithness (Halkirk, Caithness).

Former Councillor David Flear retired as a Caithness Highland Councillor in 2012 after 13 years’ service.

Duncan Ferguson (Fergie) MacDonald. For services to Scottish Traditional Music. (Acharacle)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Sophie Jane Dunnett. For services to Amateur Athletics in Scotland (Reay, Caithness). Sophie was formerly employed as an Occupational therapist at The Highland Council from 1993 – 1999.

Paula Morag Lloyd. For services to the Vulnerable in Inverness during the Covid-19 Response (Inverness).

Debora Ann Townsend. For services to the community in North West Scotland during Covid-19 (Achnasheen, Ross and Cromarty).