Dufftown man Jim Nicol wins award for efforts to promote Moray hometown
A community stalwart has received a national award for his efforts in promoting and improving the town he lives in and loves.
Jim Nicol, from Dufftown, has spent decades dedicating his time to making the town a welcoming place.
His efforts were rewarded when he won the Scotland Loves Local High Street Award for the Highland and Islands Scottish Parliament region for his efforts in his local community.
Jim is well-known as a presenter on Keith Community Radio and is the tireless editor and researcher of quarterly magazine the Dufftown Speirin.
He said: “I love staying in Dufftown and to promote the town in any way I can.
“I have been given the moniker of the ‘Speirin’s Mannie’ by the locals and met a lot of folk through it.”
The Scotland Loves Local is a movement to encourage people to create a better future for their communities by choosing local.
The nomination said: “Jim has a deep love for the town he was born in, which he has expressed in a lifetime of community engagement.
“He has been active in supporting the town’s key social and cultural activities-the annual gala, the annual boys’ walk and promoting events at Mortlach Hall, one of the centrepieces of Dufftown’s community life.”
“Jim is also a past chair of the Dufftown and District Community Council and secretary of the Dufftown and District Community Association.”
Scotland Loves Local’s chief officer, Kimberley Guthrie said: “Our judges agreed that Jim is undoubtedly a hero for his work to champion Dufftown.
“Heroic efforts lie at the heart of the tireless and tremendous work taking place to make communities in the Highlands - and throughout Scotland - better places.”
On his radio work and his efforts in Dufftown, Jim added: “I am lucky to be at a time when Facebook is around. I love it when I can share photos and articles from Dufftown Speirin's page.
“The radio station is a recent adventure. I do a monthly rock show.
“It's good fun to do and I send in my pre-recorded show from my studio/radio shack in my garden.”