Borestone Primary headteacher tops New Year’s Honours List

Jan 6 2010 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

BORESTONE Primary School headteacher Jessie Wojciechowski has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

Mrs Wojciechowski, who has been head at Borestone since 1999 and spent three years at East Plean before then, said the award was “a big surprise.”

She added: “I got a letter from Downing Street telling me I had been recommended for an award and would I be happy to go on the list.

“I found out a few weeks ago I was to receive the honour – and I didn’t tell anyone, not even my mother!”

Staff and pupils at Borestone lined up to congratulate her on their return after the festive break yesterday (Tuesday).

“I’m looking forward to collecting the award and I’m sure the children will want to see it.”

MBEs were awarded to Dereck Fowles, Susan Harvey and Catriona Matthew.

Drymen man Dereck is the former chairman of the Forth Valley and Lomond Action Group and his award was given for services to rural communities in Scotland.

Doune’s Susan Harvey will pick up her honour for services to orienteering and to the community of Doune and Deanston.

A former British champion in the sport, the 66 year-old was a member of the International Orienteering Federation for 37 years, 10 years as president (1994-2004) and is now honorary life president.

She still makes a contribution to the sport although a back injury has curtailed her participation.

In 1977 she founded Harvey Maps with husband Robin and the company is still located in Doune and provides a professional map-making service to orienteers, hill-walkers and climbers.

Robin Harvey received the MBE in 1977 for services to orienteering mapmaking following the World Orienteering Championships 1976 held in Scotland in Aviemore.

Former Stirling University student Catriona Matthew described her MBE award as “the icing on the cake” following her successful year.

Catriona, the first female golf scholarship recipient at Stirling in 1987, became the first Scot to win a women’s golf Major when she won the British Open – only 11 weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Sophie.

“This is a wonderful surprise,” she said, “and is a fantastic end to what has been a very special year.

“Having had Sophie in May, I never envisaged wining a major golf championship this year.

“The reaction to it and the recognition I have had has been amazing and I’m very grateful to everyone for their support.

“The MBE is the icing on the cake.”

Former Central Scotland Police Assistant Chief Constable Maureen Brown received the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM).

She was in charge of the operation which led to the conviction of Alva man Mohammad Atif Siddique on terrorism charges and left CSP in 2007 to become Police Advisor to the Council of the European Union, assisting with policing activity in locations around the world.

In her present role, she deals with 27 member states and the operational challenges of nine police missions with around 4,000 personnel across three continents.

“To receive the QPM was an unexpected but fantastic honour,” said Miss Brown.

“The award is also recognition for the many people I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 30 years both within the police service and externally.”

Central Scotland Police Chief Constable Kevin Smith added: “I am delighted that Maureen’s contribution to the police service in Scotland and beyond has been recognised in this way.”