By Philip Murray

THE MANAGING director of one of the county’s biggest business success stories has been named 2009’s Angus Ambassador of the Year.

Bert Smith, who runs Montrose business Merpro, was handed the honour at a glittering ceremony in Carnoustie last night.

The awards are an annual celebration of the very best of the people, the communities and the businesses of the county.

And Bert wasn’t the only one celebrating during the evening. For although he was the overall winner, six other individuals and groups were also honoured for work in their respective fields—from culture and tourism through to business and the community sectors.

“The Angus Ambassador Awards give us the pleasure of recognising and rewarding every one of our exceptional winners,” said Angus Provost Ruth Leslie Melville.

“However, every finalist in these awards is a winner, demonstrating that success comes through commitment, initiative, drive and ability.

“Angus is a county which recognises, nurtures and encourages these assets.”

During last night’s ceremony at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel some 200 guests heard how, in only 30 years, Bert has transformed Merpro from a five-man operation into one of the largest employers in the area and a company which leads the way in the world’s oil and gas sector with its groundbreaking innovations

It was also revealed that, as well as transforming Merpro into a global organisation with an annual turnover of over £25 million, Bert has helped other companies and further boosted the Angus economy through his membership of business support organisations such as the Angus Economic Development Partnership.

The other deserving winners of the evening included Forster Roofing, which bagged the Business Ambassador award for its “excellence in roofing and also for creating and providing a training scheme for local youngsters.”

Highly commended in the same category was the Montrose Rope & Sail Company.

In the Community Ambassador category the winner was the Brechin Youth Project, with honourable mentions for the Carnoustie Allotments Association and the Lilybank Diversity Team in Forfar.

Cultural Ambassador of the year was the JJ Laing Mania Dance Studio in Arbroath for its work teaching contemporary dance and cheerleading to over 300 youngsters every week.

Highly commended were the Kinblethmont Gallery, by Arbroath, and Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre.

Elsewhere James Bell from Carnoustie was named International Ambassador for encouraging the young people of Angus to help disadvantaged people across the globe. Angus College and the Montrose Seafarers’ Centre were also commended for their efforts in the field.

Arbroath Events—the organising team behind the highly successful Seafront Spectacular—was named Tourism Ambassador of the year, with Harbour Nights Guest House in Arbroath and Caroline Millar from the Hideaway Experience at Balkello also praised.

And the Youth Ambassador award went to Stephen Barthope from Arbroath, one of the UK’s top painters and decorators.

Claire Smith from Monifieth and Hannah Stewart from Montrose narrowly missed out on the same honour but were highly commended for their work.

The Angus Ambassador Awards are part of Angus Ahead’s Angus Ambassador programme, which encourages individuals, organisations and companies to formally declare themselves as Angus Ambassadors and positively promote Angus both within and outwith the county.