Queen's birthday honours

A Scottish classical composer, Europe's former chief scientific adviser, a MND campaigner and a leading figure in the Japanese nuclear industry are among alumni honoured by the Queen.

One of Britain's most successful living composers, James MacMillan receives a Knighthood for services to music. MacMillan graduated from Edinburgh with a BMus in 1981 having studied composition under Rita McAllister. He was awarded an honorary degree by the University in 2005.

International acclaim

First attracting international acclaim with the 1990 BBC Proms premiere of The Confession of Isobel Gowdie, MacMillan’s prolific output has since been performed and broadcast around the world and includes percussion concerto Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, Seven Last Words from the Cross and Quickening.

A recent choral piece was sung when Pope Benedict XVI conducted mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow in 2010 and in October last year he founded, The Cumnock Tryst, a music festival which takes place in his native Ayrshire.

Science advisor

Scottish biologist and academic, Professor Anne Glover has been honoured with a damehood for services to science.

Anne was, until November 2014, Chief Scientific Advisor to the European Commission and is a prominent advocate for women in science. She is Vice-Principal External Affairs and Dean for Europe at the University of Aberdeen and, from 2006 to 2011, the Chief Scientific Advisor for Scotland.

Professor Glover graduated with a BSc in biochemistry from Edinburgh in 1974 and then studied at Cambridge University where she obtained a doctorate in molecular microbiology in 1981. She pursued a career in scientific research at Aberdeen University where she took up the post of Lecturer in 1983 becoming a Professor in 2001.

She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University in 2013 in recognition of her major contribution to science and the leadership of science policy in Scotland and Europe.

Creating awareness

Also honoured is Business School alumnus, campaigner and former director of research for Better Together, Gordon Aikman who receives a British Empire Medal for services to Motor Neurone Disease (MND) awareness and research.

Day in day out thousands of people across this country are bravely battling this disease.  I want to share this honour with each and every one of my fellow fighters. 

Gordon set up the GordonsFightback.com campaign after being diagnosed with MND in June 2014. Motor Neurone Disease (or MND) is a rare, progressive and debilitating disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord and for which there is currently no cure. As of December 2014, Gordon’s campaign has generated 12,000 emails to MSPs and MPs demanding action and raised over £100,000.

Gordon will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Edinburgh in July 2015.

Big in Japan

Currently on secondment to the British embassy in Tokyo, chemistry alumnus, Dr Keith Franklin has been awarded an MBE for his services to UK/Japan relations in the field of nuclear energy.

Prior to taking up his position in Japan where he heads up the nuclear team at the embassy, Keith held the position of business leader in the reactor chemistry and materials area at the National Nuclear Laboratory.

I was astonished to hear that I was to receive this award – but obviously I was also delighted and honoured too. If the links between the nuclear industries in the two countries, particularly in nuclear decommissioning, are working successfully, then it’s down to the help and support of countless colleagues in both nations, not just me. I’m also grateful to my employer, NNL, for the chance to take up this unique and tremendously varied posting at a very challenging time for the nuclear industry in Japan.

The complete list of alumni

Civil Division List

Knights Bachelor

Knighthood

Sir James MacMillan CBE

1981 BMus, 2005 Hon DMus, The University of Edinburgh

Composer and Conductor

For services to Music

Order of the British Empire (Civil Division)

Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Professor Dame (Lesley) Anne Glover DBE, FRSE

1978 BSc (Biochemistry), 2013 Hon DSc, The University of Edinburgh

Lately Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission

For services to Science

CBE - Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Mr Richard Matthew Jeavons CBE

1980 MA (Economics), The University of Edinburgh

Chief Executive, Independent Reconfiguration Panel and Director of Commissioning, Specialised Services, NHS England

For services to the NHS

Mr John Alexander Matheson CBE

1995 MBA, The University of Edinburgh

Director of Health Finance, e-Health and Analytics, Scottish Government

For services to Healthcare

Mrs Louise Isabelle Silverton CBE

1983 MSc, The University of Edinburgh

Director of Midwifery, The Royal College of Midwives

For services to Midwifery and Maternal and Child Health

OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Mr Edward William Broadley OBE

1976 BEd Education General, Moray House School of Education, The University of Edinburgh

Lately Senior Education Officer, Education Scotland

For services to Education

Mr James Graham Simpson Gill OBE

1975 BSc Forestry, The University of Edinburgh

Lately Forest Management Director, North England Forest District, Forestry Commission England

For services to British Forestry

Dr Mary Hepburn OBE

1970 BSc Medical Sciences Ordinary, 1973 MBChB Medicine, The University of Edinburgh

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

For services to Glasgow Women’s Reproductive Health Service

MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire

Mr Robert Crawford Banks Forman MBE

1968 LLB 1972 LLM, The University of Edinburgh

Honorary Secretary, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Association.

For political service.

Dr Isobel Kay Grigor MBE

1986 PhD Social Sciences, The University of Edinburgh

Chief Executive Officer, Calman Trust.

For services to Community and Economic Development in the Scottish Highlands.

Mrs Carolyn Heather MacLeod MBE

Postgraduate study 2008-2013, Moray House School of Education, The University of Edinburgh

Programme Manager, Royal Caledonian Education Trust.

For services to Education in the Armed Forces.

Mr Eric MacLean MacIntyre MBE

1974 MA History, The University of Edinburgh

Lately Higher Education Manager, Loughborough College.

For services to Higher Education.

Mr Gordon Hamish Stout MBE

1973 BSc Computer Science & Mathematics, The University of Edinburgh

Regional Manager, South West England at The Scout Association

For Services to Scouting and to Young People

Medallist of the Order of the British Empire – BEM

Mr Gordon Lewis Aikman BEM

2008 NGU Laigh Year Students – HSS, The University of Edinburgh

2007 MA Business Studies

For services to Motor Neurone Disease Awareness and Research

Diplomatic Service and Overseas List

Order of the British Empire (Diplomatic Service and Overseas List)

OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Professor Cyril James Weir OBE

1978 MSc (Arts), The University of Edinburgh

Powdrill Chair in English Language Acquisition, University of Bedfordshire

For services to English Language Assessment

MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire

Dr Keith Campbell Franklin MBE

1989 BSc (Chemistry), 1993 PhD, The University of Edinburgh

First Secretary Nuclear, British Embassy, Tokyo, Japan

For services to UK/Japan relations in the field of nuclear energy

BEM - British Empire Medal

Mr Gordon Morrison BEM

1973 BSc (Civil Engineering), The University of Edinburgh

Founder and Chair, World Child Cancer Global

For services to children with cancer in the developing world

Military Division

Army Awards

MBE - Member of the Order of the British Empire

Major Roderick Shannon MBE

1998 BSc (Environmental Archaeology), The University of Edinburgh

Scots Guards

Royal Air Force Awards

OBE - Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Wing Commander Jonathan Blythe Crawford OBE

1993 BNG(O) (Civil Engineering), The University of Edinburgh