Eddie Thompson, the man who founded the Dundee-based Morning Noon & Night store chain, receives the OBE in today’s Birthday Honours for services to the Scottish grocery industry and his work as chairman of the Scottish Retail Consortium.

Mr Thompson was born in Glasgow and trained as an accountant before joining Watson & Philip in Dundee in 1964, eventually becoming joint managing director.

He formed Morning Noon & Night in 1991, and by last year there were 800 people employed in 50 stores with total sales of £53 million a year.

The chain was sold to Scotmid in August of last year.

He was appointed chairman of the SRC in 1999 and is also on the board of the British Retail Consortium, the Scottish Grocers’ Federation and the CBI council for Scotland.

He was awarded the Scottish Grocery Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, and is also chairman and main shareholder of Dundee United FC.

Speaking yesterday as he was about to board a plane from Paris to Edinburgh, he said, “I am delighted with the honour, not just for myself but for the retail trade which I have represented for many years.”

Director of the SRC Fiona Moriarty said, “I am delighted that Eddie’s work on behalf of the retail industry is being recognised.

“He is a vocal and highly effective ambassador for the industry.”

Chief executive of the Scottish Grocers’ Federation Scott Landsburgh said, “He has my wholehearterd congratulations for his work, particularly in developing the trade as a more professional and safe environment for people to work in.”

* The man synonymous with the world famous Perth Bull Sales, David Leggat, has been awarded the MBE.

Mr Leggat, group marketing director for United Auctions Ltd, has been given the honour for services to agriculture in Scotland.

One of Scotland’s best-known auctioneers, Mr Leggat took on a new strategic role as group marketing director with responsibility for the promotion and development of all of UA’s activities in 2000.

These responsibilities include livestock marketing, meat processing, property, forestry, farm administrative services, printing, insurance, the leisure industry and livestock genetics.

Mr Leggat has spent his career with UA and its former subsidiary Macdonald Fraser, and directs the Perth Bull Sales.

* Architect Professor Richard Russell, founder member of the Broughty Ferry Nicoll Russell Studios, receives the OBE for services to architecture.

He and his colleagues were responsible for the award-winning design for Dundee Rep, and have gone on to design prestigious projects throughout Britain and overseas.

Professor Russell, one of the most highly regarded architects in the profession, was appointed to the Royal Fine Arts Commission by the Queen in 1998.

In February last year he was elected an academician within the Royal Scottish Academy.

Professor Russell said, “I am very honoured and proud.

“It is a nice thing to happen to anybody.

“But the honour also reflects on Nicoll Russell Studios, as we care about what we are doing.

“It is particularly important at the moment, given the grand revival of quality architecture across the country.

“This honour sends a message about the importance of architecture.”

* Sandy Ironside has been made an MBE in recognition of a lifetime’s work dedicated to his home town of Laurencekirk.

At 85 Mr Ironside is still involved heavily in the life of the community where he was born and brought up and where he has remained all his life except for his war years’ service.

When he left school he began work for the Co-Op and stayed with them, serving the last 30 years as branch manager.

He attends Probus, of which he is a past president; he is a founder member and past president of Laurencekirk Rotary Club, a founder member of the day care centre where is in his 14th year as chairman; and he is a director of The Venue, the local youth and community club.

He is a member of the Healthy Living Group, is a former chairman of Kincardine and Deeside Crime Prevention Panel and serves on the community safety committee.

Mr Ironside was also a long-serving Laurencekirk representative on Mearns Community Council.

* A former clerical assistant who served the same Dundee primary school for more than 40 years has been awarded the MBE.

Miss Helen Smith, who was well known to generations of children at Ancrum Road Primary School, has been honoured for services to the city and to education.

* Also honoured with the MBE is Yuk Nam Sum for his services to community relations in Dundee.