Five remarkable Renfrewshire residents have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Two residents were awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) while three dedicated locals were awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in this year’s Birthday Honours which are awarded as part of the King’s official birthday celebrations throughout June.
Receiving an MBE is Renfrewshire woman Corinne Hutton who was the first person in Scotland to have a double hand transplant. Corinne received her award for her services to sepsis awareness and to amputees.
The Lochwinnoch mum founded the charity, Finding Your Feet (FYF) in 2013 to support amputees after having her own hands and feet amputated when she contracted life-threatening sepsis.
Given a five per cent chance of surviving the potentially fatal infection, within four months of losing her limbs, she defied doctors with her progress when she walked a mile on prosthetic legs to raise funds and awareness for FYF.
The 53-year-old now offers practical, emotional and financial support for those who have suffered limb loss or loss of limb function.
More than £2 million has been raised to support FYF so far, with a majority of this coming from her fundraising.
She has spearheaded multiple campaigns, including her campaign to raise awareness of sepsis, where she partnered up with the Scottish Government, releasing a video detailing the symptoms and dangers of sepsis.
Following this success, Corinne launched the #DifferentIsNormal campaign to get everybody talking about their differences.
She then went on to raise awareness of the huge lack of organ, limb and tissue donors in the UK, running a visual campaign by partnering with a body painter, to encourage people to register.
She then became the first patient in Scotland to have a double hand transplant.
Since then, she has broken three world records with her fundraising challenges, including becoming the first quadruple female amputee to conquer Ben Nevis, complete the London Triathlon and climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
Delighted with her recognition, she told the Paisley Daily Express: “I’m flattered and humbled to be honoured like this but Finding Your Feet is a team of hard working individuals of which I’m only one.
“I’m happy to take one for the team on this occasion, though!
“I am so proud of what we and the amputees have achieved between us, while coping with our physical and mental health, conditions and mobility every single day. It’s tough for everyone, but we’re tough.”
Also being awarded an MBE for services to lawn tennis is Paisley man John Stevenson.
The 71-year-old has dedicated his life to tennis and enriched all those who have experienced his advice and passion for the sport.
John is respected in tennis, not only in Scotland but throughout the UK. His career spans over 35 years, nearly all as a volunteer holding numerous posts.
Undertaking tournament director and referee work, John has delivered the Scottish District Tennis Championships at Kilgraston every year for more than 25 years and the Paisley and District Championships event for over 35 years.
John’s other significant contributions are taking ownership of the Scottish Wimbledon ticket allocation to ensure all appropriate stakeholders and volunteers were rewarded in a small way by the opportunity of visiting Wimbledon.
And he drove the Four Nations event as the Scottish representative for many years, having recruited Judy Murray to the position of high performance national coach in Tennis Scotland.
Taking up tennis in Elderslie at the age of 11, John made his way through the ranks and says that he still enjoys the sport to this day.
He said: “I am very flattered and quite honoured. It’s not something I was looking for. Most volunteers don’t do what they do for the recognition, they do it because they have a passion.
“I am truly flattered and I must admit, it should probably be my wife who gets the award for putting up with me and my tennis over the years.”
For his services to the transport industry, chief executive of WH Malcolm Limited, Andrew Malcolm has been awarded an MBE.
The Malcolm Group has long been a household name in Renfrewshire. There is not a single part of the £220 million family-owned business that he does not have a direct influence over.
Andrew is passionate about nurturing and supporting over 2,100 employees at all levels to realise their potential.
From driving an HGV at the age of 16, to CEO, Andrew has increased turnover from £86m in 2001 to £223m in 2020 with the workforce almost doubling in size.
Andrew, who grew up in Brookfield and now lives in Kilbarchan, said: "It is a fantastic honour in recognition of not just of the sector I'm involved in but, more importantly, of the family company that I have the pleasure of leading.
"In some respects I've been quite lucky in life in that I do what I enjoy and I enjoy what I do.
For voluntary service to the Scottish Schools Football Association and to the Scottish Football Association, Alexander Blackburn McMenemy received a BEM.
Alexander’s commitment to youth football, on a voluntary basis for more than 50 years, is incomparable.
The 77-year-old has worked his way through the ranks, from representing Paisley and District schools in the early 1970s to holding a seat on the Scottish FA’s Congress.
Mr McMenemy has seen an impressive array of accolades, including being named as honorary treasurer of the Scottish Schools Football Association (SSFA) in 1995, whilst his work made him a natural choice as the inaugural Chair of the Scottish FA’s (SFA) West Region Committee in 2005.
Alexander says that “football has always been a driving force and passion” in his life while teaching was his vocation, initially as a PE teacher and then working as depute head for 33 years.
Andrew Melvin was also awarded a BEM for his services to traditional music and to the community in Glasgow and Renfrewshire.
The Williamwood Pipe Band, pipe major has taken a local pipe band from the brink of collapse in 1975, to leading them to back-to-back World Championships titles potentially the first in successive grades.
This was achieved selflessly with home grown talent, sourced directly from the local community.
Taught, coached and nurtured by himself, he led the band from a handful of boys with no leader, to nearly 100 members and learners; boys, girls, men and women.
And the 71-year-old has voluntarily taught around 300 of the local community, with a range of ethnicity, assisting those living with disabilities and supporting those experiencing financial hardship.
And Mr Melvin is still actively fulfilling the voluntary Pipe Major role after 45 years, teaching local classes and performing professionally.
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