Angus residents recognised in Birthday Honours

An gold medal-winning Angus winter Olympian, scientist and Royal British Legion Volunteer have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Hailey Duff (centre) in action at the Olympic qualification event in Leeuwarden last year. (Pic by WCF / Steve Seixeiro)Hailey Duff (centre) in action at the Olympic qualification event in Leeuwarden last year. (Pic by WCF / Steve Seixeiro)
Hailey Duff (centre) in action at the Olympic qualification event in Leeuwarden last year. (Pic by WCF / Steve Seixeiro)

Hailey Duff from Forfar has been awarded an MBE for services to curling following the British women’s team’s victory at the Winter Olympics in China earlier this year.

The 25-year-old was born into curling, following in the footsteps of her father John, who was the runner-up in at the 2020 Scottish Senior Championships.

She has played curling for her country (SCO/GBR) in 39 games at four championships/tournaments and, as well as Olympic gold, her achievements include a gold medal in the Olympic qualification last year and in the European Championship.

She still plays in local club games, representing Forfar Curling Club and Curling Aberdeen, sometimes on the same team as her dad. She is also an ambassador for the sport and actively encourages young curlers to play curling at her home rink.

Dr Peter Wright, also from Forfar, has been made an MBE for services to science.

Over a 30-year career as Leader of the Ecology and Conservation Group, Marine Scotland Science and as a voluntary lecturer at Aberdeen University, he has had a considerable impact mentoring young scientists which has been evident across the Scottish Government and internationally within the field of marine science.

Among a considerable list of accomplishments, as a supervisor, lecturer, mentor, reviewer, and research partner, transforming the careers of many and he has committed a large part of his career and free time to nurturing scientific talent and to initiating research that forms a lasting national and international legacy in the protection of the world’s seas.

Dr Wright’s work is responsible for many safeguards that protect Scotland’s marine environment and contributed to the understanding of the effects of climate change.

Georgina Ogilvie has been awarded the British Empire Medal for her years of voluntary work with the Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS).

A former Citizen of the Year, the 77-year-old is currently chairperson of the Arbroath branch’s Women’s Section. She joined the section in 1976 and 20 years later she also joined the main Arbroath branch. For the last 44 years Mrs Ogilvie has been a leading and valuable member of both branches, serving for six years as vice-chair and chairperson of the Women’s Section Central Council.

Her main focus has been on providing support to members in need, especially the elderly. She has also been very active in raising much-needed funds by catering for other events, such as weddings or funerals. She also pulls out all the stops for the annual ANZAC commemorations and gatherings on Remembrance Sunday.