Three well-known figures in the Ayrshire community have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List.
Lady Marguerite Catherine Hunter Blair, Margaret Clark and Stephen Hugh Neilson have all been bestowed with awards from King Charles III.
Lady Marguerite Catherine Hunter Blair is widely known in Ayrshire, especially around Maybole, in her capacity as Chair of the Carrick Centre and as one of the Deputy Lieutenants of Ayrshire and Arran.
Lady Marguerite has been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for her work as Chief Executive of Play Scotland, the lead organisation for the development and promotion of play in Scotland.
The award is in recognition for Lady Marguerite’s services to play, to learning and to health.
Margaret Clark, an emergency laparotomy nurse specialist, from Stevenston, has been awarded a BEM (Order of the British Empire) for her services to the NHS in Scotland.
And Stephen Hugh Neilson, from Troon, faces a trip to Buckingham Palace later this year to receive an MBE for his services to helping promote and grow the sport of Handball.
Stephen has been a hugely influential figure in Scottish Handball and became Chair of the Scottish Handball Association in 1999, taking on that role until 2013.
And in January last year, Stephen took on the role as Chair of the British Handball Association. He was previously chair of the BHA from 2004 to 2008.
Stephen also coached the Scotland Men’s and Women’s teams in the 90’s and was the GB Men’s Assistant coach from 1997 to 2001.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: “I congratulate all Scots the length and breadth of the country who have been honoured by His Majesty the King in his New Year Honours list.”
Other Scots figures to have been included in the New Year Honours List includes the likes of broadcaster and presenter Jackie Bird, Scotland and Liverpool football legend Alan Hansen and Olympic swimming hero Duncan Scott.
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