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The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Scotland's most decorated Olympian describes ‘special' OBE moment
Scotland's most decorated Olympian has described the 'special' moment when he was made an OBE at a ceremony in Edinburgh on Tuesday. Swimmer Duncan Scott, who won his eighth Olympic medal at the Paris Games last year, said it was 'humbling' to be recognised by the King at an investiture ceremony held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The 28-year-old was one of a number of Scots receiving honours from the King during Royal week, when the monarch traditionally spends a week based at the palace. Among those honoured were artist Dame Barbara Rae, while Paralympic swimmer Stephen Clegg was made an MBE for services to swimming, and Kevin Hay, who translated the Bible into Doric, was made an MBE for services to the Doric language. Speaking to the PA Media news agency after receiving his award, Scott said of sport that 'you don't do it for the recognition. You do it for things that you want to achieve, either individually or as part of a team'. He continued: 'But there is that added element that it's really humbling and really nice to be recognised for the hard work that you've put in.' He added: 'Being able to celebrate and receive this award with my family here today, I think it's just quite a special moment.' Scott added that it was not his first meeting with the King, the pair having met in 2017 when the then-Prince Charles opened a pool at an East Ayrshire village. 'I actually met the King when he opened the pool in New Cumnock,' Scott explained. 'So we had a brief conversation about that. He's always had a real passion for for swimming facilities up and down the country.' Painter and printmaker Dame Barbara studied at Edinburgh College of Art and went on to teach art in secondary schools then lecture at Aberdeen College of Education and Glasgow School of Art. Her work has been shown around the world in both group and solo exhibitions, including at venues in Chicago, New York, Washington, Santa Fe, Oslo, Hong Kong, Dublin and Belfast. The 81-year-old described attending the investiture ceremony as 'nerve-wracking', but that the King had set her at ease. She said: 'I'm feeling relieved, actually, because it was a bit nerve-wracking, especially having to walk backwards and curtsy. 'But he was very interesting to talk to, and expressed interest in what I was doing, talking about my Antarctic travels. 'And I referred to his painting, and that of Prince Philip, whom I met a while ago, and he was just very pleasant, a lovely man, and made me feel quite relaxed.' The Falkirk-born artist added that being awarded this 'really quite rare accolade' was 'really important' for Scottish art. 'I hope that (it) will be an inspiration to the generations of artists that are coming up, some very good, talented artists that are coming up,' she explained. 'And it's good for the institution like the Royal Scottish Academy to have this honour, and I believe it's for everybody, not just for me.' She also reflected that being made a dame had not changed her own life as an artist in any way, and that she still had to 'go into the studio and make a painting'. She added: 'You don't get any better because you're a dame, unfortunately, so you've still got to get into the studio and solve problems, and just be creative and carry on.' Paralympic swimmer Clegg, who won two gold medals at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, described being made an MBE as a 'huge honour'. 'Some people go their entire lives never receiving anything close to this,' he said. 'So to receive an MBE is a really special thing, and it gives me a lot of pride to know that I've been recognised by my country in this way.' The swimmer, who has a visual impairment and competes in the S12 category, added that the accolade 'puts a spotlight on not just the sport as a whole, but sport for the disabled community'. He recalled as a child struggling with 'all the barriers and limitations' people had placed on him, and that swimming had been an 'arena' in which he had been able to prove them wrong. 'And I hope that's a sport other people can discover', he added. Meanwhile retired solicitor Mr Hay was made an MBE after spending 17 years translating the New Testament and then the Old Testament into Doric, the first time the whole text has ever been changed into any variant of the Scots language. The Old Testament translation was published last year while the New Testament version came out in 2012, comprising more than 800,000 words between them. Speaking after the investiture, Mr Hay said he was 'absolutely delighted' to have been recognised for his work. '(I am) especially pleased because the recognition is for my work with the Doric language, which has been repressed for the best part of 100 years,' he said. 'And to think that it's now being recognised by the king is really superb.' Mr Kay, who was born to a Doric-speaking family in Inverkeithny in what is now Aberdeenshire, added that when he first set out on his translation he could never have imagined it would lead to an audience with the King. 'In fact, when I was at school, you got belted if you spoke Scots of any kind, even one Scots word, and you could get the belt,' he said. 'And here's now a recognition for doing something in that very language. So it's great.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
King Charles launches Holyrood Week events in Edinburgh
King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Edinburgh for a series of events to mark Holyrood King's first engagement was the traditional Ceremony of the Keys in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, his official residence in the Scottish took place shortly after the Royal couple arrived by monarch traditionally spends a week each July in Edinburgh but last year the programme was shortened by the general election. The King was presented with the keys by Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge, who held them out on a red cushion, which the monarch symbolically will later hold an investiture ceremony and garden party at the palace, at the foot of the Royal Mile, alongside Queen receiving honours will include Scotland's most decorated Olympian Duncan Scott (OBE), double Paralympic swimming champion Stephen Clegg (MBE) and artist Barbara Rae (Damehood). Before the ceremony, the palace's gardens were transformed into a parade ground and the King met senior military and uniformed then received a royal salute before inspecting a Guard of Honour of soldiers from the Royal Company of Archers, who serve as the King's ceremonial bodyguard in lined up was the Palace Guard made up of soldiers from Balaklava Company, 5 Scots, and the High Constables of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
King and Queen to attend events in Edinburgh as Royal Week begins
The King and Queen will carry out a series of engagements in Edinburgh as Royal Week gets under way in Scotland. Charles will begin his official engagements by receiving a Royal Salute and inspecting The King's Bodyguard Scotland (Royal Company of Archers) Guard of Honour in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. He will then take part in the Ceremony of the Keys which welcomes him to the Scottish capital. The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge will present the Keys to the City of Edinburgh to the King, who then returns them for safe keeping. The King will also preside over an investiture ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Tuesday. Those receiving honours will include artist Barbara Rae, who was awarded a damehood for services to art in the New Year Honours, and Scotland's most decorated Olympian, Duncan Scott, who becomes an OBE for services to swimming. Swimmer Stephen Clegg, who won two gold medals at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris and becomes an MBE for services to swimming, will also attend. The monarch traditionally spends a week based at the Palace of Holyroodhouse each year in what is known as Holyrood Week or Royal Week in Scotland. Later on Tuesday, the King and Queen will host guests at a garden party at the palace, alongside the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Glasgow Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Rutherglen school named winner of Scottish Water competition
Trinity High School's Eco Club was named the winner of Scottish Water's 2025 Making Waves Challenge, part of the Generation H₂O programme. The school impressed judges with its campaign on the environmental impacts of artificial grass, which can cause surface water flooding and microplastics in water environments. Read more: 'What do you call a wizard's dog?': Pupil reaches joke competition final The campaign was promoted both internally and externally, engaging with Rutherglen Amateur Swimming Club and a local Scouts group. The school was selected as the winner from 34 entries across seven schools in the Central Belt. Luke McGowan, teacher at Trinity High School, said: "The Eco Committee were thrilled to win the challenge and have face-to-face time with Duncan. "They are passionate about protecting the environment and the Making Waves Challenge was a great way to put their passion into action – even better that we won." As a reward for their victory, Trinity High School received a visit from Duncan Scott, Scotland's most decorated Olympic athlete, as well as a water safety lesson from Scottish Swimming. Duncan said: "It's great to see the enthusiasm and dedication of the young people to protect the water environment and playing their part in being a responsible water citizen." The Making Waves Challenge is part of Scottish Water's Generation H₂O programme, which aims to inspire young people across Scotland to celebrate and protect the nation's water. Read more: Glasgow's unsung WWII heroes honoured for bravery Lorna Neilson, manager of the Generation H₂O programme, said: "We'd like to thank all the schools that participated in the Making Waves Challenge. "We were very impressed by the quality of all the entries and, in particular the entry from Trinity High School and we were thrilled to have Duncan Scott on board to help celebrate the school's success." 'Scottish Water is Scottish Swimming's Learn to Swim partner, and Duncan is our Learn to Swim Ambassador, working together really is a great way to reward young people for their efforts in becoming responsible water citizens – in and around water.'
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Trinity High win visit from Scotland's most decorated Olympian Duncan Scott
The Eco Club at the school won Scottish Water's 2025 Making Waves Challenge. A secondary school in Rutherglen has won Scottish Water's 2025 Making Waves Challenge as part of an education programme to encourage young people to protect the future of the nation's water. The Eco Club at Trinity High was named as the winner of the challenge - which is part of the utility's Generation H₂O programme - after demonstrating strong engagement and creating a campaign about protecting our water environment. The school beat off competition from a total of 34 entries from seven schools across the Central Belt and was rewarded with an inspiring visit from swimmer Duncan Scott, Scotland's most decorated Olympic athlete, and a water safety lesson from Scottish Swimming. The Trinity High team demonstrated a well-rounded campaign about the impacts of artificial grass which can lead to surface water flooding as well as microplastics in Scotland's water environment. And the school's Eco Club promoted their campaign internally and externally, engaging with Rutherglen Amateur Swimming Club and a local Scouts group. A panel of judges representing Scottish Water and Scottish Swimming were impressed by the calibre of all entries. Scottish Water Generation H₂O programme, which the Making Waves Challenge is part of, inspires young people across Scotland to become part of a movement to celebrate and protect Scotland's water, creating responsible water citizens. By working with Scottish Swimming, the programme also demonstrates the importance for everyone to be responsible in and around water. On winning the competition, Trinity High teacher Luke McGowan, said: 'The Eco Committee were thrilled to win the challenge and have face to face time with Duncan. They are passionate about protecting the environment and the Making Waves Challenge was a great way to put their passion into action – even better that we won.' After the visit, Duncan Scott, said: 'It's great to see the enthusiasm and dedication of the young people to protect the water environment and playing their part in being a responsible water citizen.' Lorna Neilson, Generation H2O programme manager, said: 'We'd like to thank all the schools that participated in the Making Waves Challenge. We were very impressed by the quality of all the entries and in particular the entry from Trinity High School and we were thrilled to have Duncan Scott on board to help celebrate the school's success. 'Scottish Water is Scottish Swimming's Learn to Swim partner, and Duncan is our Learn to Swim Ambassador, working together really is a great way to reward young people for their efforts in becoming responsible water citizens – in and around water.' Generation H₂O is designed to inspire young people to become part of a movement to celebrate and protect the nation's water, one of the most valuable and precious resources, creating responsible 'water citizens' for a flourishing Scotland and connecting them to Scottish Water by raising awareness of the company and its crucial role across Scotland. It gives learners across Scotland the tools to protect Scotland's precious water. Designed for Scottish classrooms, the programme teaches students about water conservation in a way that connects to their local environment. All resources and available to download at Generation H₂O was launched by Scottish Water in September 2023 and, so far, 920 of teachers have registered across Scotland, reaching 54,127 young people. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
