A charity volunteer is the first winner of a new honour.
Stephen Harman is treasurer of the Dumfriesshire and Stewartry branch of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA), having been a serviceman earlier in his life.
And his efforts have seen him win the charity’s Regional Recognition Award, which aims to recognise extra endeavour.
Forty-year-old Stephen is a partner in chartered accountants Carson and Trotter, which has offices in Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright.
On leaving school, he joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), but after a couple of years’ service was medically discharged.
Stephen said: “Not knowing what I would do, I returned to college and then university before becoming a chartered accountant with The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, and in a roundabout way, this is how I became connected with SSAFA.
“The previous branch treasurer had been a partner of the accountancy practice I’m with.
“He approached the firm to see if anyone would be interested in taking it on and with my history – and with my brother-in-law in the Household Cavalry – I thought that this was something I should put my skills towards and so jumped at the chance.
“Being given this award means a lot in that it is recognition that my contribution to SSAFA, a charity that has helped to improve so many lives, has been of use, however much behind the scenes.”
SSAFA’s Scotland regional chair, Graham Meacher, said: “This new Regional Recognition Award acknowledges those who have added significant value specifically to the Scottish region, their branches, SSAFA in general, and most importantly to the clients that they have helped directly or indirectly.
“Generally managing large caseloads, working under pressure, and assisting – with compassion and humour – individuals often experiencing in the most trying of circumstances, the recipients of the Regional Recognition Award embody all that is good about SSAFA.”
