Thornhill’s Sinclair Barbour had cause for a double celebration on Sunday.
As well as it being his 63rd birthday, he was also finally able to tell his family and friends that he has been recognised in the New Year Honours List.
Sinclair is set to receive a British Empire Medal for services to Scottish country dancing.
Over the last 40 years, he has taught hundreds of pupils in the Thornhill area as well as teaching in Japan, the US and training a team to dance for the late Queen.
Sinclair and members of Thornhill Scottish Country Dancers have put on displays to help local charities with fundraising activities while travelling the world entertaining people including the Sultan of Brunei and dignitaries at British embassies.
News of his BEM came as a shock, but he’s “absolutely thrilled” at the honour.
He said: “When I received a text about it around a month ago I thought it was a scam.
“But it turned out to be genuine and I’m absolutely thrilled.
“It’s fantastic.
“The hardest thing was not being able to tell anyone, so I made an announcement during a party to celebrate my birthday and New Year on Sunday.
“It’s brilliant.”
News of his honour came just a month after Sinclair retired out of his hill sheep farm at Auchenhessnane after deciding it was time for a “change of direction”.
He moved from the farm into his late mum Bertha and dad Billy’s home in Thornhill.
The well-known couple both died in 2021, and Sinclair said they would have been “absolutely delighted” at news of his BEM.
“They always encouraged me in everything I did so it’s sad they’re not here to see this,” he said.
But he was thrilled to be able to tell sister Jane, brother John and their families his good news.
“I told everyone at a party on Sunday, which was also my birthday.
“My pals from the David Kennedy Scottish Dance Band were there.
“Over the years, the bands I played with as well as all the dancers were like my family.
“This honour is for all of them as well.”
Two people in the Stewartry were also recognised in the list.
Pauline Brown, an advanced nurse practitioner at Castle Douglas Medical Group, has been named an MBE.
And Kirkcudbright RNLI lifeboat operations manager John Collins is to receive the British Empire Medal after volunteering with the crew for more than 30 years.
