Glasgow recipients of New Year Honours List 2024 revealed

Recipients from the city and surrounding areas include former Rangers and Scotland manager Alex McLeish, alongside many working in the emergency services, charity, sports and arts sectors. 

McLeish, who grew up in the Parkhead and Kinning Park areas, received an OBE for services to charity with the 64-year-old having helped raise more than £200,000 for Crohn's and Colitis UK. 

He is also an ambassador for the Catherine McEwan Foundation which helps fundraise and raise awareness of the conditions.

READ NEXT: Former Rangers manager Alex McLeish ‘humbled’ at being made OBE

He said: "I am hugely honoured and humbled to receive this OBE in recognition for my career in football and my charitable work.

"This is a proud moment for myself and my family and I’m grateful to the Honours Committee for this fantastic award."

Meanwhile, professor Sir Jim McDonald of the University of Strathclyde has been appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours list, for services to engineering, education and energy.

Sir Jim became principal and vice-chancellor of the university in March 2009 following a long association with Strathclyde.

He said: "I am deeply honoured to have been recognised by His Majesty in this way.

"It is a huge privilege to be principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde and to hold the presidency of the Royal Academy of Engineering, one of the UK’s national academies.

"The discipline of engineering – particularly in the field of energy – and the institution of Strathclyde are both very close to my heart and to receive such recognition for my work in these areas is incredibly humbling.

"I lead a fantastic team at Strathclyde and this award also recognises the help I’ve received from a huge number of people who have contributed to my personal development, professional opportunities and career over many years in academia, industry and public service.

"Of course, none of this would have been possible without the support and encouragement of my wife Eileen and that of my children, family and friends."

Undated handout photo issued by the University of Strathclyde of Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, who has been made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (Image: PA)

Alex Reedijk, general director of Scottish Opera, becomes an OBE for services to the performing arts in Scotland.

Mr Reedijk is the longest serving general director in the history of Scottish Opera, having joined the company in 2006.

During his time with Scottish Opera he has toured productions, both large and on smaller scale, the length and breadth of the country, bringing live opera to local venues as well as bigger city-based theatres to open up access to opera.

Whilst recognising the importance of presenting popular titles, he has also been adventurous with new compositions.

This has included the commissioning the 15-minute chamber operas, Operas Made in Scotland, by composers including Craig Armstrong and Stuart MacRae and writers including Sir Ian Rankin, Sir Alexander and Louise Welsh as librettists.

Mr Reedijk said: "I have been so lucky to have been part of the rich cultural life in Scotland over the past 35 years, principally with Scottish Opera as its general director since 2006 but also as part of the team at Assembly Theatre in the Edinburgh Festival, Mayfest, and more recently with the Citizens Theatre and the Beacon Arts Centre.

"Success in any field of endeavour but especially the arts require three key ingredients: very hard graft, passion and being able to work with amazing people who are all equally determined, talented and creative every day. Many thanks to you all."

Undated handout photo issued by Scottish Opera of Scottish Opera General Director Alex Reedijk who has been made an OBE (Image: PA)

Scottish Opera said Mr Reedijk has also helped the company remain a “trailblazer” in community arts engagement with programmes including its Primary Schools Tour, which during his tenure has so far reached more than 250,000 children in the arts across all 32 Scottish local authority areas.

He has also overseen an array of new initiatives for young people, and for people living with dementia, including what is said to be the world’s first dementia friendly opera performances in 2016.

Robert Fyfe, honorary president of Runway Theatre Company, received a Medal of the Order of the British Empire for services to the arts and to the community in Glasgow.

Mr Fyfe retired this year after 40 years with Runway Theatre Company, 27 of them as chairman and director.

Originally called the Glasgow Airport Drama Club, the amateur dramatics company, now based in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, has been running for more than 50 years and performs traditional pantomimes and "rare, new and lesser known musicals".

Mr Fyfe said: "I am honoured to receive this award for my involvement in amateur theatre, particularly with Runway Theatre Company.

"It has been a joy over the years to combine my passion for the arts while helping to raise funds for causes close to my heart.

"This recognition reflects the collaborative efforts of a dedicated community of volunteers."

Retired chief superintendent Carol McGuire received the King's Police Medal.

Ms McGuire joined Strathclyde Police in 1995 and retired in October this year.

During the course of her career she undertook a secondment to the football co-ordination unit Scotland, where she developed the country’s first national strategy for the policing of football.

Ms McGuire, 52, said: "It is fair to say I am genuinely overwhelmed and more than a little surprised to be receiving such a prestigious accolade, however I am extremely proud as well.

"I am also enormously grateful to those who have guided and mentored me throughout my career in policing, and the many others whose support has been invaluable.

"It was a true privilege to have been a police officer, and to have led and been part of so many tremendous teams, and my thanks go to everyone who has been a part of my story."

Undated handout photo issued by Police Scotland of Police Scotland retired chief superintendent Carol McGuire (Image: PA)

See the full list of those honoured in Glasgow and the surrounding areas below:

Glasgow

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Professor Gavin Halbert. Director, Cancer Research UK Formulation Unit, University of Strathclyde. For services to Cancer Treatment and Research. (Glasgow, Glasgow)

Professor Mark Logan FRSE. Chief Entrepreneurial Adviser to the Scottish Government. For services to the Economy. (Glasgow, Glasgow)

Alexander Reedijk. General Director, Scottish Opera. For services to the Performing Arts in Scotland. (Glasgow, Glasgow)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Louise Long. Chief Executive, Inverclyde Council. For services to Local Government and to the community in Inverclyde, Renfrewshire. (Glasgow, Glasgow)

Roma Maguire. Professor of Digital Health and Care, University of Strathclyde. For services to Health Care Research. (Glasgow, Glasgow)

Helen Ann Maitland. Lately National Director for Urgent and Unscheduled Care, Scottish Government. For services to NHS Scotland. (Bishopbriggs, Glasgow)

Gordon Stirling McIntyre. Founder and Chair, Hospitality Health. For services to the Tourism and Hospitality Industry in Scotland. (Glasgow, Glasgow)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Audrey Dempsey. Founder, Glasgow's No1 Baby and Family Support Service. For services to Families and Vulnerable People in Glasgow. (Glasgow, Glasgow)

Robert Francis Fyfe. Chair and Director, Runway Theatre Company. For services to the Arts and to the community in Glasgow. (Glasgow, Glasgow)

Lanarkshire

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Professor Alexandrina Henderson Farmer Jay OBE. Lately Chair, Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. For services to the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse. (Lanarkshire)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Dr Graham Paterson. Lately Executive Director, City Building. For services to Equality and Inclusion in Construction. (Coatbridge, Lanarkshire)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Sharon Elaine Kelly. Project Manager, Royston Youth Action. For services to Young People. (Airdrie, Lanarkshire)

Karen Eleanor Spiers. Senior Charge Nurse, NHS Lanarkshire. For services to Dementia Care in Hospital. (Hamilton, Lanarkshire)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Alice Kerr Waite. Officer, Girls' Brigade. For services to Young People and to the community in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire. (Cambuslang, Lanarkshire)

Renfrewshire

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Pauline Jean Howie OBE. Lately Chief Executive, Scottish Ambulance Service. For services to Emergency Health Care. (Erskine, Renfrewshire)

Catriona Mary Robertson Schmolke FREng. Chief Executive Officer, Charlie Five. For services to Engineering. (Giffnock, Renfrewshire)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Dr Dipankar Datta. Chair, South Asia Voluntary Enterprise. For services to Charity. (Newton Mearns, Renfrewshire)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Joanna Esther Brown (Joanna Cram). Lately Chair, Scottish Osteopathic Society. For services to Musculoskeletal Healthcare in Scotland. (Renfrewshire)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

Margaret Douglas Rae. Lately President, Renfrewshire Girlguiding. For services to Girlguiding in Scotland. (Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire)

ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER

CVO

Baron Malcolm Ian Offord Of Garvel. lately Trustee, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. (Renfrewshire)

Dunbartonshire

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Professor William Cushley. Chair, Expert Committee on Pesticides. For services to the Regulation of Plant Protection Products. (Bishopbriggs, Dunbartonshire)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Permjit Gosal (Pam Gosal) MSP. Member of the Scottish Parliament for West Scotland. For services to Business, to Racial Equality and to Charity in Milton Keynes. (Dunbartonshire)

Professor Yvonne Perrie. Professor of Drug Delivery and Head, Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences. For services to Pharmaceutical Innovation and Regulation. (Dunbartonshire)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

William David Hutton. Founder, Campsie Accordion and Fiddle Club. For services to Music and to the community in Dunbartonshire. (Lennoxtown, Dunbartonshire)

ALSO

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Alexander McLeish. For services to Charity. (London, London) – Born in Glasgow, footballer for Aberdeen, manager of Motherwell, Hibernian, Rangers and Scotland

SCOTTISH OFFICE

KING'S POLICE MEDAL (KPM)

Carol McGuire. Chief Superintendent, Police Service of Scotland.

SCOTTISH OFFICE

KING'S FIRE SERVICE MEDAL (KFSM)

Iain Morris. Acting Director, Asset Management, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.