A florist fighting a dignified battle against illness and a hero schoolboy have been recognised as Carnoustie’s top citizens.
Olive Duncan was awarded the Citizen of the Year while the Derreck Orrock Memorial Trophy for Junior Citizen was 13-year-old Carnoustie High School pupil Gregor Melville who helped an injured driver following a serious road crash.
One of those unique people who is recognisable simply by her first name, Olive has been serving the people of Carnoustie for 36 years.
She is currently very unwell and was unable to attend so the trophy was accepted by her husband Stewart who attended with his sons and grandson.
Community council chairman Arliss Rhind said: “Everyone knows her as just Olive the flower lady.
“In the 36 years she has served the public she has supported hundreds, maybe even thousands of people in the community through joyous occasions and sad ones.
“Always smiling, always helpful, she is that ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.
“In her current battle against illness, she is showing great courage and determination and is an inspiration to all.
“The award for her outstanding contribution to life in Carnouste is richly deserved and was made with love to her and all her family.”
Paul Grant, chairman of sponsors Mackays, made the presentation to Stewart and recalled his personal links with Olive when his company first came to Carnoustie many years ago.
He said the award in his view was “long overdue”.
Junior Citizen Gregor Melville was witness to a serious two-car collision in Carnoustie earlier this year.
Gregor was walking to meet friends from his gran’s house near the junction of North Burnside Street and Dundee Street when two cars collided just metres in front of him.
He immediately went to the aid of one of the drivers who was trapped in his seat.
For almost an hour, he stayed with the injured driver, keeping him calm and stable until the arrival of the emergency services.
“He was complaining that he had pain in his neck, so I just tried to keep him talking until an ambulance came,” he said.
“I knew that I had to keep him talking because he couldn’t remember anything about what had happened. I don’t like blood.
“I almost fainted when my dog was bleeding once, but my instincts and first aid training took over.”
Gregor is a member of 2499 Carnoustie Squadron of the Air Cadet Corps.
His actions were praised as calm and mature by police at the scene and Gregor was later awarded the Regional Commander’s Certificate of Merit for exemplary conduct.
