The Honours system

Two British Empire medals side by side.
British Empire Medals. Credit: SIC

The honours system recognises people who have:

  • made achievements in public life
  • committed themselves to serving and helping Britain

They’ll usually have made life better for other people or be outstanding at what they do.  People get honours for achievements like:

  • making a difference to their community or field of work
  • enhancing Britain’s reputation
  • long-term voluntary service
  • innovation and entrepreneurship
  • changing things, with an emphasis on achievement
  • improving life for people less able to help themselves
  • displaying moral courage

People in Shetland who have received an Honour in recent years include - 

Helen Budge
Former Director, Children’s Services, Shetland Islands Council
For services to Education
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
14 June 2025		  

Andrew Nisbet
Community Volunteer
For services to the community in Yell, Shetland
British Empire Medal (BEM)
30 December 2024

Kathleen Elaine Stout
Lunch Club Volunteer, Royal Voluntary Service
For Charitable Services
British Empire Medal (BEM)
30 December 2024

Dr. Pauline Fullerton
Consultant Physician, Gilbert Bain Hospital, NHS Shetland
For services to Medicine in Shetland
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
30 December 2024

Gordon Alistair McFarlane
Lately Consultant General Surgeon, Gilbert Bain Hospital, Shetland.
For services to Rural Healthcare in Scotland.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
30 December 2024

Robert Hunter
Lord-Lieutenant of the Shetland Islands
Companion of The Royal Victorian Order (CVO)
16 June 2023

Michael Dickson
Chief Executive, Shetland and Orkney NHS
For services to Healthcare during Covid-19
Officer of Order of the British Empire (OBE)
30 December 2022

William Henderson
For voluntary services in the Shetland Isles
British Empire Medal (BEM)
30 December 2020

 Margaret Robertson
Musical Director, Hjaltibonhoga, the Shetland Fiddlers of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
For services to Traditional Scottish Music
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
9 October 2020
Sonia Inkster
For services to the community in Scalloway, Shetland
British Empire Medal (BEM)
9 October 2020

Desley Stickle
For services to the community in Unst, Shetland
British Empire Medal (BEM)
29 December 2018

Arnold Duncan
For services to the Constabulary, Court Service and the community in Shetland
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
11 June 2016

Jessie Hartley
Lately Postmistress, Hamnavoe Post Office
For services to the community in Burra, Shetland
British Empire Medal (BEM)
11 June 2016
Valerie Johnson
Director, Frankie’s Fish and Chips
For services to the Food and Drink Industry in Shetland
British Empire Medal (BEM)
11 June 2016		 Mark Wylie
For services to Sport in the Shetland Isles and to charity abroad
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
8 January 2015

Elizabeth Johnson
Business Development Manager, Pure Energy Centre, Unst
For services to Renewable Energy and Charitable Fundraising in Shetland
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
8 January 2015

Leslie Tait
Commercial Fisheries Liaison and Vessels Manager, North Atlantic Fisheries College Marine Centre, and Chairman, The Shetland Fishermen’s Association
For services to Sea Fishing
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
31 December 2015

Agnes Leask
Crofter
For services to crofting
British Empire Medal (BEM)
2013 NY Honours List

Alexander Cluness
For services to the community in Shetland
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Birthday Honours 2010

Elizabeth Fullerton
For services to tthe NHS in Shetland
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
New Year Honours List 2010

Stewart Hay
Deputy Head, Anderson High School
For services to local  & international education
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Birthday Honours 2009

The Lord-Lieutenant plays an important role in helping to increase awareness of the Honours system and widening the range of people in Shetland who may be considered for an award.

The King may express his wish that a Lord-Lieutenant should present certain awards on his behalf.  It is the Lord-Lieutenant’s duty to present BEMs awarded to recipients resident in their county.  Anyone appointed MBE, OBE or CBE is entitled to ask for the insignia to be presented locally by the Lord-Lieutenant, rather than at an investiture at Buckingham Palace or Holyroodhouse.  The same applies to knighthoods in special circumstances.