Chief Constable and Rebus author Ian Rankin among Scots honoured by Queen

Scotland’s top police officer and the writer best known for the fictional detective John Rebus have both been knighted.

Chief Constable Iain Livingstone and the author Ian Rankin are among the Scots who have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The 62-year-old writer, who has penned 26 books featuring the fictional police officer Rebus, said it was “amazing to be honoured in this way”, though he added it “may not make writing my next book any easier”.

He added: “I am not sure what Detective Inspector John Rebus would make of it – he’d almost certainly tell me not to get too big-headed.”

He spoke as details of the list, which has been released slightly earlier than usual to coincide with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, were announced, with Scots recognised for a range of achievements, including at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow last year and those who have helped in the fight against Covid 19.

From the world of sport, Great Britain’s Olympic gold medal-winning women’s curling team, all of whom hail from Scotland, have been honoured.

Skip Eve Muirhead is made an OBE for her services to the sport after the team took Britain’s only gold medal of the Beijing Winter Olympics, with teammates Vicky Wright, Jennifer Dodds, Hailey Duff and alternate Mili Smith all becoming MBEs.

Nineteen-year-old Neil Simpson, from Banchory, Kincardineshire, skied his way to Paralympic gold at Beijing, winning in the Super G Visual Impaired class with the help of his guide, and brother, Andrew.

Less than three months on from that success, the siblings are celebrating again, after both being made MBEs.

The same honour goes to swimmer Hannah Miley, who has represented both Scotland and the UK in the pool, after a career which has seen her win almost 50 medals since she first became a Commonwealth champion in 2010.

Miley, also a former world and European champion who competed at three Olympic games, announced her retirement from competitive swimming in December 2021, with the award recognising both her service to swimming and to women in sport.

She told PA Scotland she “burst into tears and then hugged my mum” after learning she is being made an MBE.

Elsewhere Jim Walker, the director of the family firm Walker’s Shortbread, said he was “extremely honoured” to receive a knighthood.

A grandson of the original founder, Joseph Walker, Sir Jim joined the Speyside firm in 1962 when it was still a village bakery, helping it grow to become a household name which exports its shortbread biscuits around the globe and employs more than 1,500 staff at peak times across its six factories – all still in the Speyside area.

“I am extremely honoured and touched to receive this honour from Her Majesty the Queen,” he said.

“It comes as a complete surprise and is very humbling.”

Glasgow City Council chief executive Annemarie O’Donnell is made an OBE in recognition of her services to local government, including at the Cop26 climate summit, which the city hosted in November last year.

Political leaders from across the globe travelled to Scotland for the event, with Glasgow City’s Council’s Colin Edgar, who was senior responsible officer for the summit, and Denise Hamilton, the head of city services at the council, both being made MBEs.

Nurse Maria Hewitt from Paisley has been awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of her work during the pandemic.

Although she was left “in the absolute depths of grief” after her husband John died from the virus in June 2020, she went back to work at the beginning of 2021 and became a vaccinator, helping protect people across the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area from Covid-19

“I felt I had to do something to help,” she said.

“Millions had died and every member of NHS staff were working so hard to help. I felt it was what my husband would want me to do.”

She said she was “very proud” to receive the honour, adding: “I feel it’s recognition for my own and everyone’s efforts during the pandemic, but it also brings back that terrible time.”

Stephen Cole, an intensive care doctor in NHS Tayside, is also honoured for his work in the pandemic, becoming an OBE.

Dr Cole said: “The last two years have been career defining for everyone working in intensive care in Scotland.

“This award is gratefully received and is testament to the close collaboration, commitment and dedication of the entire intensive care team not only within Tayside, but across Scotland.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon congratulated all Scots who have been recognised in the Birthday Honours List, which she said “illustrates the outstanding contributions of the people of Scotland who have made a difference to their communities, throughout the country and beyond”.

The First Minister stated: “From those who contribute to the creative industries, communities and charities, to those who have excelled in the field of science and medicine, the honours highlight their exceptional service to the people of Scotland.

“I am delighted to see Scotland’s athletes who were outstanding during both summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo as well as the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, so well represented.

“I am also pleased to see that those individuals who worked against the coronavirus pandemic, its far reaching impact and those working for our recovery, have been recognised. I know we are all incredibly grateful for their selfless actions and it’s right that their outstanding efforts have been acknowledged in this way.

“I also want to extend my congratulations to those personnel who have been awarded The Queen’s Fire, Police or Ambulance Service Medals. Our emergency services have displayed incredible fortitude throughout the pandemic, and deserve our continued appreciation for keeping people and communities across Scotland safe, every day of the year.”

They truly exemplify the dedication, ambition and generosity of spirit that has defined the Queen’s 70-year reign

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack also paid tribute, saying: “In the year of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, my whole-hearted congratulations go to all those across Scotland who have been recognised for their extraordinary public service.

“They truly exemplify the dedication, ambition and generosity of spirit that has defined the Queen’s 70-year reign.

“We were all gripped by the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing, as our curlers swept to gold and we topped the podium in alpine skiing. Eve Muirhead is awarded an OBE, while the rest of the team get MBEs, along with alpine skier Neil Simpson and his brother and guide Andrew.

“One of Scottish literature’s most recognisable names, Ian Rankin’s knighthood is richly deserved; his Inspector Rebus novels have kept us entertained and in suspense for decades.

“It’s great to see recognition of Scotland’s fantastic food and drink. James Walker of Walker’s Shortbread is being knighted, and OBEs are given to Ian and Michael Urquhart from the family-run Gordon & MacPhail whisky company.

“Honours also go to those whose dedication and resilience helped make Glasgow’s hosting of COP26 safe and successful, including a well-deserved knighthood for Police Scotland’s Chief Constable Iain Livingstone.”