Carnoustie citizens honoured for their commitment to different aspects of town life have received British Empire Medals.
New Angus Lord Lieutenant Mrs Pat Sawers made her first BEM presentations to Kirsty McDonald and Mike Robertson at the ceremony in the town.
Mrs McDonald’s service to the community and town branch of Legion Scotland has stretched over more than 35 years, involving her in a variety of roles within the organisation.
She was also recently honoured by Poppy Scotland in recognition of organising the town’s poppy sellers for more than two and a half decades, during which in excess of £125,000 has been raised.
Kirsty has also been involved in a successful scheme to distribute surplus food from local stores to those in the community less able to provide for themselves. She also opened her home to a terminally ill veteran for the final weeks of his life.
Further, she finds time to run Colourful Carnoustie which creates floral displays all year round, and for special events including the 147th Open in 2018 when flower-filled golf bags were hung from lampposts in the town.
Carnoustie and District Brass Band conductor Mr Robertson has been teaching and inspiring children, youths and adults to play brass for more than 20 years.
Mr Robertson’s BEM citation highlighted his success in helping pupils secure places at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
For many years he tutored the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland and is also Arbroath Instrumental Band’s musical director.
Carnoustie and District Youth Brass Band has won the Scottish Youth Brass Band premier section championship five times since 2008 and the British Youth Brass Band championships three times since 2010.
Another highlight was performing in the Royal Albert Hall in 2012 at the Music for Youth Schools Prom and last year he led Carnoustie High School Brass Band on a 15-day tour of China, the first British school brass band to perform in the country.
Mr Robertson has also been twice named as Carnoustie Citizen of the Year, most recently in 2010.
