The 2019 New Year honours list has been revealed, and a number of locals are being recognised for their efforts.
Amanda Kopel
Charity fundraiser Amanda Kopel, who forced through a change in government health policy, has been awarded the British Empire Medal.
Mrs Kopel has campaigned relentlessly for free personal care to be extended to those under the age of 65 living with a debilitating illness.
She launched the Frank’s Law campaign in April 2013 after watching her husband, Dundee United legend Frank, battle dementia for six years.
The Courier-backed campaign will become law in April 2019.
Elaine Wyllie
Retired head teacher Elaine Wyllie, 63, from Burntisland has been honoured with an MBE for her simple but ground-breaking idea to get schoolchildren more active.
Six years ago, while at the helm of St Ninian’s Primary School in Stirling, Elaine began a regime to get pupils fitter which grew into The Daily Mile.
She is now a trustee of The Daily Mile Foundation, with the initiative having spread to 55 countries and involved more than 1,300,000 children.
She said: “I was amazed and delighted and very much see it as an honour for The Daily Mile Foundation and all the teachers up and down the country that make the daily mile happen.
“At the time we could see we had stumbled on something that was good for children and it could work elsewhere but never did I imagine a foundation would be set up and it would changing children’s health and wellbeing the way it has.”
Mike Ferguson
Dundee University professor Mike Ferguson has been knighted for his service to science.
The regius professor of Life Sciences at the university helped build the Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) in the university’s School of Life Sciences.
It has attracted more than £75 million of investment and works with international health agencies and pharmaceutical companies to combat diseases such as Chagas’ disease and tuberculosis, including developing an anti-malarial drug now in human trials.
Professor Robert Bartlett
Professor Robert Bartlett, the Emeritus Professor of Medieval History at St Andrews University, has been awarded a CBE for services to history.
Born in Streatham in 1950, the historian was educated at Cambridge, Oxford and Princeton universities.
He has held posts at Edinburgh and Chicago universities.
Mr Bartlett is well known for presenting the major BBC documentary series The Normans.
Kate Caithness
Angus curler Kate Caithness has been awarded a CBE.
She was elected the first female President of the World Curling Federation in 2010 and in 2012 was awarded an OBE for services to curling and international disability sport.
She was also responsible for securing wheelchair curling’s inclusion into the Paralympic Winter Games programme in Turin in 2006.
Paul Okroj
Paul Okroj, of Dunfermline, was awarded the OBE for voluntary service.
He is head of volunteering at Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and his award recognised his commitment as co-chairman of the Scottish Volunteering Forum and chairman of the Befriending Network UK.
He is credited with doubling the number of volunteers in CHSS.
Maria Walker
Educationalist Maria Walker, from Errol has been given the OBE.
She had education director roles in Dundee and Perth and Kinross councils before taking a strategic role in Aberdeenshire Council.
Alan Murray
Alan Murray, chief operating officer for Waterski and Wakeboard Scotland, has been awarded an MBE for services to the sport.
The 71-year-old, who began water skiing in 1972, has worked to create and improve pathways into the sport for both able-bodied and disabled people.
The Newburgh resident has developed two clubs in Perth and was heavily involved in establishing Scotland’s National Waterski Centre near Dunfermline, which opened in 1993.
David William Fox-Pitt
David William Fox-Pitt, director of WildFox Events has an MBE.
The Dorset-raised father-of-three lives at Loch Tay and organises charitable events which have raised more than £40 million worldwide.
Keri Reid
Keri Reid. Principal Teacher and International Schools Co-ordinator Muthill Primary School, near Perth has been given an MBE.
Under her leadership, principal teacher Keri Reid has won widespread praise for Muthill Primary School, particularly for its strong international links.
John Alfred Jardine
Former St Andrews University Bedellus John Alfred Jardine, who hooded more than 15,000 students and honorary graduates including Hillary Clinton and Sir David Attenborough, has been awarded a British Empire Medal.
Mr Jardine, who served in the army for 25 years, joined the university in 1986 and oversaw the running of the janitorial network.
Promoted to Bedellus in 2007, he said his proudest moment came during the university’s 600th anniversary when he walked down the aisle of Westminster Abbey carrying St Salvator’s mace.
Colin Brown
Angus councillor Colin Brown, depute Provost of Angus, has been awarded the BEM for services to local government, sport and the community of Angus.
Mr Brown, of Forfar, founded Forfar Farmington Football Club – the north east’s premier girls and women’s football club – in 1984 and continues as club chairman.
He also ran the Forfar Youth Club.
Gillean Irralee McNab
A BEM goes to Gillean Irralee McNab. For services to The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and to the community in Perthshire.
Andrew Burns
Andrew Burns, a street chaplain from Dundee has been given the BME for voluntary services in the city.
Retired police officer Liam Fitzpatrick has received the Queen’s Police Medal.
He was based mainly in Dunfermline and is credited by colleagues with almost single-handedly professionalising officer safety training in Scottish policing.
