Animal welfare expert 'stunned' after being included in honours list

Doreen Graham, from Blyth Bridge, is one of three Borderers to be awarded an MBE.

She scooped the accolade for services to animal welfare thanks to her work as the chair of Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home (EDCH), a role she has recently retired from.

Doreen, who leads music charity Nomad Beat, emphasised EDCH’s Peebles link as one of its 1884 founders was Sir William Chambers.

“I feel quite stunned,” she said. “What made the MBE real for me was that the two choirs of which I am a member, Crescendo and The Wednesdays, had a performance last Saturday.

"One of my friends had told them and I walked in to a huge round of applause.

“That made me feel very touched and excited.

“To be honoured for something you have had so much pleasure doing is special.

“Some of the animal welfare work has been quite gruelling but when you get good results it makes a difference.”

Doreen became a trustee of EDCH in 2009 and has just retired as the charity’s chair.

As a journalist, broadcaster and public relations professional for more than 30 years, Doreen has worked with a number of animal and conservation charities in her career. 

Doreen went to work for The Scotsman in its advertising department straight from school. 

After a very varied career, including being a magazine editor, Doreen worked as press and campaigns manager for the the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

This led to her being Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals press and campaigns manager for 13 years.

The Borderer also led the team which launched ‘First Strike Scotland,’ the first UK campaign to highlight the links between cruelty to animals and human violence.

Another success is the Pet Foodbank, initiated by ECDH chief executive Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine and discussed with Doreen as chair before being presented to the board.

Doreen said: “For many people pets are the only person they speak to in a day and to lose an animal because you cannot afford to keep it is absolutely heartbreaking.

“The Pet Foodbank has gone from strength to strength and almost 5,000 meals a month are now supplied.

“Animals enrich our lives and I am very proud to have been part of EDCH.”

Meanwhile, Graham Coulson was awarded an MBE for his services to scouting and the community in Selkirk, Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale.

Martin Elliot, lead volunteer for Scouting in South East Scotland, said: “Graham has made an enormous contribution to Scouting in the south east for over 50 years, and I’m overjoyed to see him recognised with this award. 

“Graham’s work on diversity and inclusion in particular has had a huge impact locally, nationally and internationally.”

And ‘inspirational’ former NHS Borders worker Margaret Davison was recognised in the King’s list for services to midwifery.

Margaret Davison. Photo: NHS Borders (Image: NHS Borders)

Kirsteen Guthrie, associate director of midwifery at NHS Borders, said: “We are delighted that Margaret Anne Davison has been honoured with an MBE for her services to midwifery. 

“Margaret provided 50 years of service to the NHS and the majority of her career was within NHS Borders, initially as a senior midwife and laterally as an assisted birth practitioner. 

“Margaret worked with us for many years and was an inspiration not only to the midwives and medical team, but also to the ambulance service, where her passion was to train and develop all staff groups.”

Professor Donald Murray Campbell, of Penicuik, was named among the BEM recipients for his services to the church in the Borders village of Carlops and to the community in Tweeddale and Edinburgh.

There was recognition, too, for Professor Sir Hew Strachan, Lord-Lieutenant of Tweeddale, who was named among the CVO recipients for services performed on behalf of the Royal Family.