Dumfriesshire curlers have added to their glittering medal haul after collecting honours from the Princess Royal.
Lockerbie’s David Murdoch and Dumfries-born Vicky Drummond and have both become Members of the British Empire for their services to the sport following a ceremony in Edinburgh last week.
The duo, who were named in the Queen’s birthday honours list last summer, received their awards alongside members of the women’s team Jennifer Dodds, Hailey Duff and Mili Smith at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in the capital.
Drummond, who was vice-skip to Eve Muirhead and who retired from full-time curling last year, works as a nurse at Forth Valley Hospital in Larbert near Falkirk, and balanced Olympics preparation with her work on the wards during Covid-19.
She said: “Princess Anne was on great form, we have met her a couple of times now, she’s just so lovely and we’re really honoured to receive this. A year ago we were about to go into a bubble out to the Olympics so I can’t believe it’s been a year already.”
It was a rollercoaster journey to the gold for Muirhead’s rink. They were left with just one final chance to qualify for Beijing after missing out on the direct route via the World Championship and qualified through a tie-breaker.
They beat Sweden 12-11 in the semi-final after an extra end before triumphing over Japan 10-3 in the showpiece match for Great Britain’s first curling gold since Rhona Martin in Salt Lake City 20 years before.
Lockerbie curling star David Murdoch coached the women to gold glory and the men to silver.
He said: “I’m incredibly honoured and humbled to receive this today from HRH Princess Anne at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.”
