Dozens of people who have committed years of their life to voluntary service and charities have been included

Leading figures in Scotland’s third sector have been recognised for their contributions with inclusion on the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours list. 

A number of people involved in voluntary and charity work north of the border were included on the list, which was unveiled late on Wednesday night ahead of the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday. 

SallyAnn Kelly, chief executive of Aberlour Child Care Trust, has been recognised for an OBE in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for her services to children and families. 

She joined Aberlour as chief executive in 2014 and has made a significant contribution to the wellbeing and happiness of thousands of children and families in Scotland.

Throughout her career, SallyAnn has concentrated her efforts on helping children and families and those faced with significant disadvantage and adversity. 

Brought up in the West Lothian ex-mining village of Breich, SallyAnn is one of six children. She credits her parents, who worked in the public and charitable sectors, for her lifelong values of social justice, fairness, and equality.

The poverty and inequality in communities she witnessed whilst growing up made an indelible impression, driving her to seek a profession that would make a difference to people’s lives.

For 18 years, SallyAnn worked in the public sector progressing from Social Worker and Senior Social Worker in Glasgow to Senior Social Work Manager posts in South Lanarkshire, and East Ayrshire. 

In 2008, she took up the role of director of children services operations at Barnardo’s, and then moved on to her current position as chief executive of Aberlour Child Care Trust in 2014.

SallyAnn said: “I am delighted and grateful to be recognised with an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours. I would like to thank my peers who believed I was worthy of nomination. 

“It was a real surprise to receive the letter and I accept the honour with gratitude and humility. It is a privilege to do what I do. Leading Aberlour Child Care Trust is an absolute honour – it is a truly outstanding charity with many talented, committed and dedicated people who strive to improve the lives of children and families across Scotland.”

Charlotte Hunt, vice-president at Scotland’s Garden Scheme, community volunteer Rhona Gibson and Donald Melville Richards - a board member at The Alliance and convenor at deafscotland - were given BEMs. 

Katrina Frances Lambert a trustee at Volunteering Matters and lately co-chair of Back Youth Alliance, as well as Jane Reid (Jean Holloway) of Prostate Cancer UK, were also given this honour. 

Dr Sabir Zazai, chief executive of Scottish Refugee Council, was awarded an OBE. Writing on social media, he said: “I am humbled and honoured and of course surprised too. I never came to UK in search of Honours. I arrived to seek safety and protection. This award reminds us what happens when we truly welcome refugees and it’s for all those facing the violence of present day asylum regime.”

Lieutenant Commander (Retd) Martyn Robert Hawthorn, chairman of Royal British Legion Scotland, was given an MBE. 

Kathleen Gordon Sim, vice-chair of the bits and pieces charity shop in Dingwall, and Agnes Hamilton Cleghorn-Redhead were given BEMs - the latter for voluntary services to music and to the communities of Skye and Harris.

Dr James Smith Milne of Aberdeen was made a Knights Bachelor, recognising his work for charities and Scottish business, where he is the managing director of the Balmoral Group. 

Ian George Masson Urquhart was made a CBE for his work for charities and industry, alongside Michael Gordon Clark Urquhart.

Michael Andrew Edwards was also given an OBE for public and charitable service, as was Dr Graham Haddock chief commissioner of Scotland and national awards assessor for the Scout Association. 

There was an MBE for Dr Barry Klaassen. Dr Klaassen is team leader at the Scotland Emergency Medicine - Malawi Project and also acts as chief medical adviser for the British Red Cross.

Local volunteers Stuart McLellan and Ross Nelson, co-founders of the Neilston and Uplawmoor First Responders, were given an MBE for their voluntary and charitable services in Renfrewshire. 

Christine Anne McLachlan, county commissioner for Renfrewshire at Girlguiding Scotland was given a BEM in the Birthday Honours, while the organisation’s chief commissioner, Dr Moira Fay McKenna, received an MBE.