The Courier’s Impact 100 list for 2013 starts with positions 100-76. See Wednesday’s paper as the countdown continues.
100. GRAHAM GALLOWAY (NEW FROM LAST YEAR)His year: Graham Galloway of DD8 Music in Kirriemuir is the moving spirit behind the bid to erect a state of local boy and rock legend Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, in the town of his birth. Ronald Belford Scott sang with the ban from 1974 until his death in London in 1980 and already has a Kirrie street named after him, with the town’s annual BonFest drawing crowds very year since 2006. The DD8 Music community group has already raised almost £20,000 for the creation of a memorial, intended to cost around £50,000. Now a Facebook campaign worldwide is aiming to get one of the band’s iconic hits – 1979 single Highway to Hell – to top the charts again over Christmas, providing a further push towards meeting the cost of the statue with donations from fans. So far the page has garnered well over 120,000 supporters.
PANEL VIEW: A grass-roots movement to recognise a rock icon has been growing in support over the past few years. Tapping into a proud local connection, you wouldn’t bet against success in the charts – and in the streets of Kirrie – in the not-too-distant future.
99. ALAN SOUTAR (NEW)His year: Arbroath firefighter Alan “Soots” Soutar sealed Scotland’s World Cup of Darts team title in Canada this year when he threw the final winning double to gain victory over the USA. Aside from his own recognised darts skills, he also spend his own time coaching members of the Angus Darts Academy which he founded in 2012. With the help of volunteers, Alan encourages youngsters to learn the techniques of world-class dart-playing and also to achieve the best in sportsmanship, discipline and respect. With an average attendance every week of 100 youngsters aged between eight and 21, two have already represented Scotland and four have qualified for the WINMAY Youth Masters.
Alan was also named STV’s Sporting Volunteer of the Year.
PANEL VIEW: Alan is a man with world-beating sporting skills who takes time and effort to pass these on to young people – and to set an example of what makes a true champion on and off the oche. He’s a shining example of someone who gives back to their local community.
98. MEGAN ADAMS (NEW)Her year: Megan Adams from Stirling was one of the five youngsters from military families who won through against 1,000 hopefuls to make up the Poppy Girls, the very special girlband whose single The Call (No Need To Say Goodbye) raised millions for forces charities. The Royal British Legion staged an X-Factor style talent competition for a group of young girls to sing this specially written song, all of whose fathers have served their country. When they performed in front of the Queen at the Festival of Remembrance in the Royal Albert hall, Megan touched all hearts after she was overcome when her father, stationed in the Seychells, arrived unexpectedly to hear her sing and she ran into his arms.
PANEL VIEW: A moment of genuine emotion showed exactly what forces families have to deal with when their loved ones are risking their lives overseas. No-one will forget in a hurry the reality of Megan’s joy at the emotional reunion with her dad.
97. KENNY FARQUHARSON. (NEW)His year: Kenny Farquharson is the owner of the popular institution that lies in the Carse of Gowrie between Dundee and Perth, The Horn which carried off the accolade of producing the best bacon roll in Britain. The Behemoth beat off 25 rivals to win the prize with its £3.60-worth of soft roll and 15 rashers of local streaky bacon, crisped to a turn. Chef and humorist Hardeep Singh Kohli investigated it for BBC’s Radio 4 Food programme and was threatened with the possibility of a curried version!
PANEL VIEW: What better praise for a popular road-side stop-off than to have its special bacon butty win this major award? Regulars travellers on this route have known about this open secret for years but visitors are now flocking from far and wide to test out its claims. You could say it’s on a roll!
96. BRADLEY NEIL. (NEW)His year: 17-year-old Bradley won the Scottish Boys’ Golf Championship at Monifieth and played in the gold medal-winning Team GB at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival. He also came in joint second at the Dunhill Links Championship team event. He was one of four Scots to make the GB & Ireland Boys’ team for this year’s Jacques Leglise trophy and is spending part of the winter in Abu Dhabi and South Africa with the Scottish Golf Union’s men’s squad.
PANEL VIEW: Having won everything at boys’ level in Scotland – under 14, 16 and 18 titles – he will now be stepping up to the next level and is certainly one to watch. He has been compared to former Open Champion Sandy Lyle at the same stage of his career.
95. VAL McDERMID. (NEW)Her year: A very busy one with a new Tony Hill/Carol Jordan novel, Cross & Burn, her first children’s book (turned into a stage show) My Granny Is a Pirate, rewriting Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey and a hectic schedule of festival appearances including the Edinburgh International event and Bloody Scotland, which she headlined. She received an honorary degree from the University of Dundee, professing herself “just thrilled”. Less thrilling was a court case in which a disgruntled fan who threw ink at her at a book signing was convicted of common assault. She is currently in the lead with the highest number of votes to date, in the race to have the new state-of-the art morgue facility at the University of Dundee named after her and is a staunch supporter of the project.
PANEL VIEW: Val McDermid has a brilliant career and is a striking example of a working class girl reaping the benefits of a Scottish education to make it to Oxford as the first state school pupil to get into St Hilda’s College. She uses her name to promote causes she believes in and maintains strong links with Fife and Scotland – and a passion for Raith Rovers of which she is a director with her name on the stand.
94. KYLE FALCONER. (73).His year: The View’s busy year included the main stage of T in the Park, sharing a bill with the Stone Roses, playing Glastonbury and releasing a new album, Seven Year Setlist. Handpicked by the Rolling Stones, Kyle Falconer played an acoustic set at the rock legends’ iconic performance in Hyde Park this year, showcasing a different take on some of his band’s best songs in one of the most significant gigs of his career.
PANEL VIEW: You don’t get much better than being singled out to play on the same stage as the Rolling Stones and it’s something that Kyle Falconer made the most of, raising the profile of his band and its Scottish roots in front of a world-wide audience.
93. ELISE CHRISTIE. (NEW)Her year: The short track speed skater who competed for Forth Valley club in Stirling became GB’s first World Champion at 1,000m this year in Russia. She took seven medals over the season, with five podium finishes and one victory in the 1,000m event. She took two golds in the European Championships in Sweden, a gold in the World Cup 1500m event in Germany and a bronze in Hungary. She was the first British woman to win an individual medal at the 2013 World Championships.
PANEL VIEW: Elise Christie has made a mark at home and abroad, breaking British records and achieving an impressive set of “firsts” and medals across the season in 2013. She could be a major hope for medal success in the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
92. IAN BORTHWICK. (NEW)His year: In 2013, veteran Independent councillor and all-round weel-kent face in local politics, Ian Borthwick, celebrated 50 years serving the public in local government in Dundee, latterly for Strathmartine. He was honoured with a civic reception to mark his achievement as the longest-serving councillor in the country.
PANEL VIEW: There can be few people as well-known and well-liked in the often tangled world of local government but Ian Borthwick is both. He has seen huge change and controversy in the city and now, a very different contemporary face for a place he has known and supported from the age of 24 to 74. He has a proud record of public service and with changing attitudes and practices, it is very possible that we will not see his like again.
91. SCOTT BROWN. (NEW)His year: Scott Brown is a Celtic footballer and team captain who now captains Scotland in an era of potential resurgence for the national squad under the eye of respected coach Gordon Strachan. This year, he was also at the centre of a sending off controversy against flamboyant opposite number Neymar in a match for his club against Barcelona in a vital Champions League fixture. He apologised to fans for making a mistake and putting himself in the position of being forced to leave the field.
PANEL VIEW: As a central midfielder, Scott Brown is a major figure in Gordon Strachan’s plans for Scotland and as captain of Celtic, is vital to Neil Lennon’s vision for the Scottish Premier League campaign and European success. He is highly thought of at both club and country level.
90. STEVE LOMAS. (67)His year: Although he has now departed McDiarmid Park, Northern Irishman Steve Lomas was a hugely influential manager for St Johnstone who masterminded the club’s league success, taking them to a top-six place for the first time since 1999. He led them to the best run of results since the early 70s, and to third place in the SPL table. The club also achieved back-to-back Europa League qualifications for the first time ever, culminating in a historic victory over Norwegian side Rosenborg, just after Lomas had left to take up a job at Millwall.
PANEL VIEW: Steve Lomas made his mark on St Johnstone and it’s not too much to say that he gave the club back its confidence and belief in itself. The results he achieved were notable at any level and particularly impressive for a club like St Johnstone playing in the SPL.
89. PENNY UPRICHARD. (81)Her year: A doughty campaigner in defence of her beloved home town of St Andrews, Penny Uprichard’s challenge to planners and developers over environmental and building issues took her to the UK’s Supreme Court, who made a judgment in her favour over costs and legal fees incurred ruing her action against the Fife Structure Plan. This year, however, she lost her appeal to save St Andrews from what she believes are massive development plans which could change the face of the town and the community.
PANEL VIEW: Penny Uprichard’s determined defence of the St Andrews she knows and loves inspired a huge amount of public support and admiration. It also showed that a single, private individual could take the authorities to task and force them to explain themselves in a court of law. She’s a bonnie fechter in the true Scottish tradition and it wouldn’t be surprising to find that we hear more of her on this subject that is so close to her heart.
88. CHIEF INSPECTOR GORDON MILNE. (NEW)His year: The Divisional Commander for Angus under the new Police Scotland system was one of the most high-profile figures in leading Operation Shrug, a massive push against organised drug crime in Dundee Arbroath that garnered a lot of attention and public support. A series of raid by local drug squad officers and colleagues from across the country was aimed at not only discovering and confiscating serious amounts of drugs but also at disrupting and dismantling the organisation behind the activities of the criminals involved.
PANEL VIEW: This was a major operation under the auspices of a new police authority and made a big impact on the local communities served by the new-style force. Chief Inspector Milne pointed out: “This is a major operation and a really tough approach. I have no tolerance whatsoever for people who deal in drugs.”
87. JEFF HUTCHINS. (NEW)His year: The Canadian player/manager led Dundee CCS Stars (formerly Dundee Stars Ice Hockey Club) to the top of the Elite League. It was a completely turnaround in form for a team that missed the playoffs last season but by the end of September this year they were the only team in the league with a 100% record. They also progressed in the Challenge cup
Less memorably, Hutchins suffered a four-match ban following a disciplinary review.
PANEL VIEW: Hutchins has turned the Stars into a force to be reckoned with, building up team strength and style and increasing confidence at all levels.
86. JAMIE McKINNON. (NEW)His year: The 17-year-old was crowned Chef’s Protege in the BBC television programme of the same name in June. The youngest competitor, he was picked out from his class at Perth College by Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin, who also trained at Perth. Over four weeks, he went up against his rivals in front of judge Pierre Koffmann, Ruth Rodgers and Albert Roux. He has worked as a commis chef at the Murrayshall House Hotel in Perthshire and when he finishes college, will start in his mentor’s restaurant, The Kitchin, in Edinburgh.
PANEL VIEW: Good food and good cooking are a big deal in Scotland these days and a young star like Jamie is only going to prove that we have a lot to offer and a very bright future, bearing comparison with the very best in the world.
85. COLIN MONTGOMERIE. (54)His year: Monty won his first senior title this year – the Travis Perkins PLC Senior Masters – in only his third competition since he joined the European Seniors tour after turning 50 in June. He launched the new Maggie’s Cancer Centre, to be named the Elizabeth Montgomerie building in memory of his late mother, in July after spearheading the fund-raising campaign. With Judy Murray, he also kick-started the future creation of a new golf and tennis academy of excellence at Park of Keir near Bridge of Allan.
PANEL VIEW: Monty is a monumental figure in world golf who is still making his mark on the course. He is also an influential public figure in support of the fight against cancer – his mother died of the disease in 1991 – and is becoming increasingly high-profile in promoting sporting facilities and opportunities for the young in Scotland.
84. CARLY BOOTH. (57)Her year: This year was less notable for success on the golf course than for the Comrie 21-year-old’s nude appearance in ESPN: The Magazine’s Body Issue, sporting only a new tattoo. She was one of 20 global athletes to be featured including golf legend Gary Player on the cover. She commented: “It was a great opportunity and if you can do that, you can do pretty much anything.”
She also spoke out against the idea of men-only golf clubs in the continuing row about such clubs being picked to host major international tournaments.
PANEL VIEW: Carly certainly made a bigger impression in print than on the tour this year but it has be to be said she was in some very good, not to say distinguished company! If she ever decides that she isn’t cutting it at golf, she looks as if she would have a bright future as a model.
83. ALAN GLYN. (NEW)His year: After he and his wife Ruth lost their daughter, Alexis Rose, to meningitis in 2011 when she was only 19 months old, Alan Glyn has been volunteering with the Meningitis Trust, including working with MSPs to raise awareness of the illness and its effects. The Meningitis Trust used his example during Volunteers’ Week this year to say thank you to all its existing volunteers and to call on more people to get involved. Personally, he has raised tens of thousands of pounds and run a series of races, including the London marathon. The Alexis Rose Tribute Fund, at the time of writing, stood at over £66,000.
PANEL VIEW: Personal loss and tragedy have spurred Alan Glynn on to great efforts in support of a very worthwhile cause. His courage and determination show what can be achieved by individuals, their friends and families, to support, educate and raise awareness of life-threatening conditions, treatment and prevention.
82. ROD CAMPBELL MSP. (NEW)His year: The SNP’s Rod Campbell made a big splash in the news this year and took a lot of flak, public and political, by toeing the party line and voting for the closure of sheriff courts across Scotland, including his own local one in Cupar. He admitted the move was “bad news” for Cupar but claimed it would have been an abuse of his power on Holyrood’s Justice Committee not to vote for closure. Although he had earlier stated he could see no case for its removal, he argued that he had to look at the bigger case for national court reform.
PANEL VIEW: This was a move with considerable local impact and one which brought a lot of criticism for the SNP MSPs across Scotland who voted with the party against what many locals saw as the interests of their constituents.
81. FRANK QUINAULT/ALAN TRICKER. (NEW)Their year: Drs Quinault and Tricker were chairman and interim chief executive of the Byre Theatre board at the time of its entry into liquidation in January of this year, a move that was blamed on the removal of a key Creative Scotland grant. They are also part of the continuing battle, with Friends of the Byre and the enthusiastic locals to get this well-loved theatre and hub for community activities opened again. Discussions with owners Fife Council are continuing and there is currently a possibility of short-term opening for the StAnza Poetry Festival and the Fife Jazz Festival in early 2014.
PANEL VIEW: Both passionate supporters of the theatre with huge experience on and off stage, there is little that these two men don’t know about the Byre and its value to the area it served for so many years. They and supporters of its reopening are determined to get it back into regular use again and if anyone can make it happen, they can.
80. DOUGLAS McTAGGART. (NEW)His year: Douglas McTaggart is manager of Rosemount Farm, Blairgowrie, named Co-operative Farms’ Farm Business of the Year. The 850-acre farm is one of the regions biggest and has a busy soft-fruit operation, supplying events like the Wimbledon tennis championship, as well as a wide range of other crops. It has been farmed by the Co-operative organisation for 61 years this year was thrown open to the public in June as part of the Open Farm Sunday initiative, including the award-winning From Farm to Fork scheme to encourage primary children to learn about food.
PANEL VIEW: According to Douglas: “Farming is about being a sustainable business that cares for the environment, protects local wildlife and raises awareness about food.” To do that and win a major award for it highlights the forward-looking, wide-ranging nature of contemporary Scottish farming.
79. DAVID CLIMIE. (47)His year: As project director for the Forth Replacement Crossing, named the Queensferry Crossing in June, David Climie is overseeing Scotland’s biggest infrastructure project in a generation. The highest-risk phase of the operation – pouring the last concrete to form the 25m thick mass concrete underwater plug inside the largest southern tower caisson – was completed successfully in September and the project in general is coming in on time and £145 million under budget.
PANEL VIEW: This is an operation that will, at some point in their lives, affect almost everyone in Scotland who travels by car. For it to be on time and under budget is an indication to the rest of the world that Scotland can deal with major construction projects practically and well at a time when how we conduct ourselves in many different arenas is being debated nationally and internationally.
78. ANDY ROSS. (NEW)His year: Montrose site director of Glaxosmithkline Andy Ross picked up a major national award that named GSK as Investor of the Year at the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Awards. This recognition followed the firm’s announcement that £100 million would be spent across its two Scottish operations at Irvine and Montrose, supporting 100 new jobs, half of them at the Montrose site to back up the development of medicines and vaccines and increase GSK’s move to sustainable green energy production. The firm was also shortlisted for two other awards.
PANEL VIEW: This is a vote of confidence in Glaxo and its approach and Andy Ross, in turn, paid tribute not only to the commitment of GSK to manufacturing in Scotland and its trust in the commitment and capability of the staff in Angus, where it is a major employer. The investment secures the future of many jobs.
77. KYFFIN ROBERTS. (NEW)His year: Chair of St Andrews Community Council and chair of the Friends of Craigtoun, Kyffin Roberts led the drive for the rejuvenation of Craigtoun Park, iconic in Fife, to its former glory. It was rescued from a dilapidated state and turned into what is now once again a bustling attraction over one of the best Scottish summers in recent memory.
PANEL VIEW: This is a perfect example of community action to revitalise an asset that means a huge amount to the people of St Andrews, Fife and visitors from all over. It shows what can be done with determination, vision and a practical approach to what is a much-loved local venue, creating happy memories for future generations.
76. NIGEL CAYZER. (NEW)His year: As nephew and heir to the late Sir James Cayzer, Nigel Cayzer is a landowner who may be about to change the face of much of Angus with the sale of the Kinpurnie estate, left to him by his uncle. It has been in the Cayzer family since the early 1900s and is for sale for the first time in 100 years. The entire estate covers around 5,400 acres and is valued at £29 million but may be broken up into separate lots for sale, although Mr Cayzer has expressed the hope that it will be sold complete to a new owner.
PANEL VIEW: Labelled Scotland’s most expensive house, Kinpurnie Castle is an Angus landmark, as is the estate that surrounds it. The sale may have huge impact on the area and on many of the people who currently live and work there.