Two iconic Scottish singers are among those to receive awards in the New Year honours list.
Much-loved Perthshire singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean will have a spring in his step as he gets on stage to perform a Hogmanay concert.
The folk singer, who is based near Dunkeld, told The Courier he was “stunned” to be given the OBE for his services to music, as well as his charity work with organisations including Shelter and the Cyrenians.
Chart star and charity campaigner Annie Lennox said she was “genuinely honoured” to receive an OBE.
MacLean said, “This will be my 36th year as a professional musician.
“It’s not been the easiest of journeys but it’s brilliant to be recognised.
“For someone who comes from a rural background like mine, the arts is not the natural place for them to succeed, far less to get an honour for it so it’s a double thrill in that respect.”
The 56-year-old, who is best-known for his patriotic track Caledonia, has had to keep the honour a secret from his friends and family until now.
However, the first person he wanted to tell once the news was confirmed was his mother Dolly.
“I’m looking forward to telling my mammy but I don’t know exactly how I’m going to do that,” he said.
“I’d better let her know before she reads it in the papers, or else I’ll end up getting into trouble and I don’t want that.”‘Renegade’As well as recording 20 albums at his Butterstone studio over the years, Dougie also created the popular Perthshire Amber Festival, which generates over £850,000 for the local economy.
However, the musician said his success was not only down to his talent but also the support of family and fans.
He said, “There are a lot of people who have helped on the ground and who have helped get me to this particular place, so this award is as much for them as it is for me.”
Lennox, who was the singer with The Tourists and Eurythmics before embarking on a solo career, said, “I’m genuinely honoured to be part of the New Year’s Honours list for 2010.
“As somewhat of a renegade, it either means I’ve done something terribly right or they’ve done something terribly wrong.”
Aberdeen-born Lennox said, “I was never much of one to win prizes… and certainly never placed too much value on their acquisition.
“Therefore, I take this as more of an appreciation for the gentle turning of the years for someone who’s enormously grateful for being able to breathe more or less freely in a totally insane world.”
Lennox is known for her three decades of hits and recently returned to making music with a Christmas album that has sold more than a million copies. The star has special reason to be interested in the festive season she was born on Christmas Day.
She has campaigned to raise awareness of AIDS in Africa and established SING, inspired by Nelson Mandela, to aid children and women affected by the disease.