An Angus man who is responsible for safeguarding some of Britain’s biggest airports has received an OBE at Buckingham Palace.
Ian Hutcheson, originally from Carnoustie, is security director for BAA, which owns Heathrow, Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Southampton and Aberdeen airports.
He joined the company in 1997 after a distinguished career in London’s Metropolitan Police including being one of the officers present during the siege of the Iranian embassy in 1980 which ended with a daring raid by the SAS.
Mr Hutcheson (64) started out in the Met as a constable in Paddington and during his 30-year police career he rose through the ranks to become chief superintendent in charge of the airport division, which made him responsible for the policing of Heathrow.
He received his OBE, which was announced in the Queen’s birthday honours in June, for services to the airline industry.
He has overseen BAA’s responses to the growing threat of aviation-related terrorism, including the horrific events of 9/11 and the attempted bombing of Glasgow airport.
He has often been called on to advise the UK Government on aviation security matters, along with the European Parliament and the US Congress.
Mr Hutcheson and his wife Wilma, who is originally from Forfar, have two children and one grandchild.