AS a new year rolls in, so too does a fresh list of honours bestowed on thousands of inspiring individuals across Britain.
The New Year Honours List for 2025 recognises the achievements of extraordinary people who have made outstanding contributions to their fields.
This year, 18 people who live and work in Edinburgh were on the list, for their services to a number of different causes and industries.
People are selected for honours following guidance from the Cabinet Office, and anyone can recommend someone they think has committed themselves to serving Britain.
Rankings of DBE, CBE, and OBE are handed out by King Charles III or another member of the royal family, and some have been invited to the Tower of London to celebrate their accomplishments together.
Of particular note this year is Barbara Davis Rae CBE, who was awarded the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to art.
The artist, colourist, and master printmaker studied at Edinburgh College of Art in the 1960s and has been chosen for the second-highest grade in the order of chivalry honours system.
Those who received the rank of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) from Edinburgh include:
- Michelle Macleod for services to criminal justice and law enforcement in Scotland.
- Professor Alexander McMahon, lately chief nursing officer for Scotland, for services to nursing in Scotland.
- Professor Richard Andrew Williams OBE FREng FRSE, vice-chancellor and principal at Heriot-Watt University, for services to education, engineering and entrepreneurship.
Those receiving an OBE include:
- Jack Blaik, independent living fund professional advisor at the Scottish Government, for services to people with disabilities.
- John William Kennedy, Scouts Scotland treasurer and volunteer, for services to scouting and to young people.
- Gordon Leonard McNicoll for public service in Scotland.
- Louise Marie Smith, chair of Innovate Finance, for services to the fintech industry and to the empowerment of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Professor Susan Christina Welburn, professor of medical and veterinary molecular epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, for services to one health research and to disease elimination.
Those receiving an MBE include:
- Claire Louise Biggar, inclusion and wellbeing consultant and military public engagement lead at Edinburgh Napier University, for services to education.
- Zoe Castellvi-Kellhofer, entrepreneur, advocate and innovator, for services to the deaf community.
- Stephen Clegg for services to swimming.
- David Charles Dempster, lately headteacher at Boroughmuir High School, for services to education in Scotland.
- Michael David Harris. organist and master of the music at St Giles’ Cathedral, for services to music.
- Professor Gerard Samuel Saddler, head of science and advice for Scottish agriculture and chief plant health officer for Scotland, for services to Scottish plant health and to biosecurity.
- Ian McLeod Stevenson, founder and chief executive officer of Cyacomb, for services to online safety technology.
- Professor Melissa Terras FREng, professor of digital cultural heritage at Edinburgh College of Art, for services to digital humanities.
- Alexandra Macleod, founder of The BIG Project will receive a Medal of the Order of the British Empire for services to the community in Broomhouse, Edinburgh.
