Dundee University rector Mark Beaumont has received a British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours List.
The cyclist and adventurer has been honoured for services to sport broadcasting and charity.
This year he set a new record for cycling around the world.
Inspired by Jules Verne, he set himself the challenge of circumnavigating the globe in 80 days but managed to complete his epic journey in just 78 days, 14 hours 40 minutes.
Educated at Dundee High School, he is a graduate of Glasgow University.
He was awarded an honorary degree from Dundee University in 2012 and was elected rector in 2016.
Mark, 34, said the award had come as a “massive surprise”.
He said: “I got a letter through the post a couple of weeks ago but this sort of public recognition wasn’t on my radar. I’m absolutely delighted.”
Mark said he will spend the first few months of 2018 completing his book and documentary about his round the world cycle but said he is planning more adventures for later in the year.
Meanwhile, Game Of Thrones star James Cosmo is among the high-profile Scots included in the list, which also sees elections expert Professor John Curtice knighted.
The 64-year-old politics professor from Strathclyde University is well known to the public from his media and television work on polls and elections.
His exit poll in June’s snap election revealed Theresa May was set to lose her Commons majority, despite the Tories having had a massive lead in the polls over Labour when the contest started – prompting some to suggest the psephologist was the real winner in the ballot.
Born in Cornwall, he studied at Oxford, and as well as his post at Strathclyde he is a senior research fellow at NatCen Social Research – Britain’s largest independent social research agency – and president of the British Polling Council.
Sir John said he never expected the honour but was “truly grateful”.
The academic said: “Just six months ago the exit poll I led surprised everyone with a shock prediction that went on to be uncannily accurate. Now it is my turn to be surprised, and humbled, by the gracious decision to grant me a knighthood.”
The same honour is going to the Very Rev Professor Iain Torrance, a former moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland who has been Pro-Chancellor of Aberdeen University since 2013.
A former Territorial Army chaplain, during his time as moderator in 2004 he visited every British unit serving in Southern Iraq.
His inclusion is recognition of his services to higher education and theology.
Meanwhile, veteran Scots actor Cosmo is honoured with an MBE for services to drama, having starred in films including Braveheart, Trainspotting and Highlander.
More recently he has appeared in the hit show Game Of Thrones and was one of the housemates in Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson has been awarded a CBE for her services to political and public life.
Also honoured is Lady Susan Rice, the chairwoman of Scottish Water and the Scottish Fiscal Commission.
She now becomes Dame Susan in recognition of her services to business, the arts and charity.
Economics expert Professor David Bell of Stirling University is awarded a CBE, with the same honour also going to former Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Jim Martin and Ben Thomson, a former chairman of the National Galleries of Scotland who also set up the thinktank Reform Scotland.
Dr Lesley Sawers, the equality and human rights commissioner for Scotland, is honoured with an OBE, while David Duke, the founder and chief executive of Street Soccer Scotland, which uses football training programmes to help people make positive changes, receives an MBE.
The same award also goes to James Robson, the long-standing doctor to the Scotland national rugby team, and Los Angeles-based entertainment correspondent Ross King.
People from a broad spectrum in Tayside and Fife have been honoured.
Professor David Nevin Fraser Bell has been made a CBE for services to economics and public policy.
Prof Bell, 66, who lives near Auchterarder, has lectured at Stirling University for 25 years and has advised both the Scottish and UK governments on economic policy. He also lectured at St Andrews University for a time.
He said: “I feel honoured and quite surprised to get this honour.”
Also granted a CBE is Professor Andrew David Morris, formerly dean of medicine at Dundee University and lately chief scientist (health) with the Scottish Government and vice-principal (data science) at Edinburgh University.
The 53-year-old, from Perth, has special interests in diabetes, as well as how data and technology can be used to identify the causes of disease.
Dr Joseph John Morrow, 63, the president of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland, has been awarded a CBE for services to public health.
A former Dundee councillor, preacher and advocate, Dr Morrow is also currently Lord Lyon King of Arms, the office which makes judicial rulings on coats or arms.
A lifetime involvement in Angus Scouting, particularly with the Tannadice group, has been recognised with an OBE for Andy Menmuir, 72 .
Gillian Milne, recently retired senior dental nurse with the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery at Ninewells Hospital, was given an OBE.
GP Dr Alistair Emslie-Smith, of Mill Practice in Dundee, is an MBE for services to healthcare, particularly diabetes treatment.
He was involved in the Tayside-based SCI-Diabetes program, an online database of diabetes patients used throughout the country to streamline work between primary and secondary care.
Because the data is so comprehensive it can be used for research and to identify areas that may need particular attention and resources.
Former Fife Liberal Democrat councillor Elizabeth Riches has been awarded an MBE for political and public services. The retired teacher represented East Neuk and Landward for 27 years before she stepped down prior to the local government elections in May.
Evelyn Grieve, 69, from Blairgowrie is an MBE thanks more than 20 years of voluntary work as a fundraiser and speaker promoting CHAS.
Former president of Tennis Scotland Patricia Reid, from Dunfermline, was made an MBE for services to tennis and lacrosse.
Patricia has been involved with tennis for almost five decades, having also served on the Tennis Scotland Board as director of services.
Alex Duncan from Kincardine has been awarded an MBE for services to the scouting movement and the Vine Trust. He served as regional commissioner for the Scout Association’s East Region.
Experienced practice nurse Susan Kennedy, from Elie in Fife, has become an MBE for services to general practice nurse education.
She became the first national coordinator for general practice nursing with NHS Education Scotland in 2011 after 12 years working in a small practice in Glasgow.
She taught other practice nurses about managing cardiovascular disease and in 2007 was appointed a full-time lecturer in nursing and healthcare.
Dundonian Scotland national rugby team doctor James Robson has been awarded an MBE for services to the sport.
Having previously worked as a GP in the city, he joined the SRU in 1991 and has since taken part in more than 200 tests.
Dr Jane Bruce, retired GP and clinical director of NHS Tayside’s Out of Hours Service, has been awarded an MBE for services to healthcare.
Dr Bruce was an executive officer at the RCGP Scotland and for several years represented Tayside at the national RCGP Council in London and became clinical director of NHS Tayside’s Out of Hours Service in 2015.
Meanwhile, Dundee Junior Showtime founder Margaret Mather said she was surprised and delighted to be awarded an MBE.
Ms Mather founded Dundee Junior Showtime in 1970 and has been its producer and director since.
