Jackie Bird and Alan Hansen lead New Year Honours in Scotland
British Broadcasting CorporationBroadcaster Jackie Bird, football legend Alan Hansen and Olympic swimmer Duncan Scott are among the Scots named in the New Year Honors.
Bird, who hosted BBC Scotland for nearly 30 years, was made an MBE for services to broadcasting and charities.
Former footballer and former BBC commentator Hansen is regarded as one of Scotland’s best players. He played for Partick Thistle, Liverpool and the Scottish national team and was awarded an MBE.
Scott enjoyed swimming success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning eight medals to become Scotland’s most decorated Olympian ever and was awarded an OBE.
full list Also included are charity fundraisers, healthcare workers and arts and music figures.
Getty ImagesFormer Scotland defender Alan Hansen was born in Clackmannanshire and began his career at Partick Thistle before joining Liverpool in 1977 and captaining the club for four seasons before retiring in 1991.
During his 14 years with Liverpool, he won 8 First Division titles, 3 European Champions Cups and 2 FA Cups.
He made 26 appearances for the Scotland national team before hanging up his boots and turning into a commentator. He worked on the BBC’s Match of the Day from 1992 to 2014.
Jackie Bird worked for Jackie Magazine at DC Thomson, Radio Clyde and The Sun before joining BBC Scotland in October 1989.
She became the main presenter of Report Scotland and a familiar face on Hogmanay Live and Children in Need Scotland.
The 62-year-old resigned from his press role in April 2019 and became chairman of National Trust Scotland in 2022.
“I’m so excited,” she said, “so surprised and excited.
“My first thought was, ‘I could take my mum and dad to Buckingham Palace’.”
honor system
public mediaCommon award levels:
Honorary Companions – Limited to 65 people. Recipient wears initials CH after name
knight or lady
CBE – Commander of the Order of the British Empire
OBE – Officer of the Order of the British Empire
MBE – Member of the Order of the British Empire
BEM – British Empire Medal
public mediaDuncan Scott, 27, made history at Tokyo 2020 by winning four medals – more than any other British athlete at a single Olympics.
He then won two more medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, bringing his total to eight.
Scott grew up in Arlow and became Britain’s most decorated swimmer in Olympic history.
He has previously been awarded an MBE.
Football manager David Moyes, from Glasgow, has been awarded an OBE for services to football.
public mediaAfter making 540 appearances as a centre-back for the likes of Celtic and Dunfermline Athletic, he coached at Preston North End before being promoted to head coach.
He most recently took charge of West Ham United, leading the club to the Europa League in 2023, but resigned after 12 months.
The 61-year-old has previously coached clubs such as Manchester United and Everton.
public mediaAlso on the New Year Honors list is MI5 chief Ken McCallum, who has been knighted.
The former Glasgow University student spent his first year at MI5 focusing on terrorism related to Northern Ireland and later specialized in countering Islamic extremist terrorism.
He also led counter-terrorism investigations during the 2012 London Olympics.
“gaffe”
Barbara Rae, painter and printmaker from Falkirk, has been included in the Honors List.
Her work has been exhibited around the world in Chicago, New York, Washington, Santa Fe, Oslo, Hong Kong, Dublin and Belfast.
The 81-year-old said she was “speechless” after learning of the honour.
However, she says this is unlikely to change the way she works, and she still creates work in the studio every day wearing “paint-splattered overalls”.
Paralympic swimmer Stephen Clegg, who grew up in the Scottish Borders, was appointed MBE after winning his first gold medal at Paris 2024.
Gillian Docherty, chief commercial officer at the University of Strathclyde, and Professor Richard Williams, vice-chancellor and principal of Heriot-Watt University, were both awarded CBEs.
Former Scottish Fire and Rescue Service chief executive Ross Hargett was also awarded a CBE. He retired earlier this year after 30 years of service.
Former RAF navigator George Kelly, 101, has been awarded an MBE for his services to the Royal British Legion and RAF veterans.
First Minister John Swinney said the list “recognises outstanding individuals – from unsung heroes to big names”.
He added: “Each winner is deserving of the award and has made a significant difference to their community or excelled in their field.”
“These honors celebrate the best of Scotland’s bravery and sense of community. Congratulations to each of the winners and my personal gratitude.”
