New Year Honours for hard-working West Lothian trio

Jan 3 2013 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

Mary Nicolson

Hard-working people from West Lothian have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

Mary Nicolson received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the community in Blackburn for her work as chair of Blackburn Family Centre, which aims to promote education, health and facilities for recreation and other leisure time for children and their parents and families.

Mary said: “I’m delighted and absolutely humbled because I just love what I do.

“It was a big surprise and it’s been difficult not to tell anyone for the past six weeks.”

Alan Christie was recognised as a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the electricity industry and customers in Scotland.

West Lothian Council Provost Tom Kerr said he was delighted to see selfless and committed members of the public honoured for their hard work.

He added: “It is fantastic that people from West Lothian have been recognised for their work and their contribution to society.

“On behalf of people in West Lothian I would like to congratulate them on their New Year honours.”And Major Sandy Aitchison, originally from Fauldhouse, recently collected an MBE for services to his country, following a 30-year career in the Army.

His dad Jim said the whole family was extremely proud of Sandy, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Royal Scots before transferring to the MOD.

Jim said: “We were all over the moon when we found out and are tremendously proud.

“It was a great day as well at Buckingham Palace, seeing him get his MBE.”