Renowned television presenter Gabby Logan, celebrated Scottish singer Eve Graham, and former football club chairman Ann Budge are among the distinguished individuals recognized in the King’s New Year’s Honours list.

Scottish-Canadian entrepreneur Fergus McCann, cherished for his pivotal role in rescuing Celtic Football Club from financial collapse in the 1990s, has been honored with a CBE. This accolade acknowledges his significant contributions to the economy and charitable endeavors.

In addition, Jo Farrell, Scotland’s leading police officer, has received the King’s Police Medal, celebrating her outstanding service and dedication to law enforcement.

This award follows a recent revelation by the Mail that Police Scotland’s chief constable utilized over £130,000 of taxpayer funds to assist in purchasing a second residence in Scotland.

The honours list also includes a range of prominent figures, such as ice dancing icons Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, alongside actor Warwick Davis.

Gabby Logan, who shares her life with former Scotland rugby international Kenny Logan, has been appointed an OBE in recognition of her contributions to sports broadcasting and charitable work.

The former international gymnast was announced as the new co-host of Match of the Day football show earlier this year and only this month [Dec] was made an ambassador for Bloomsbury Football Association.

As part of her role, the 52-year-old will be supporting the charity’s aim of engaging 20,000 more young people in football by 2028, with at least 10,000 of them girls.

Gabby Logan, with husband Kenny, is included in the New Year’s Honours list

Ann Budge recently stepped down as Hearts chairman after more than 11 years 

Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell has been awarded the King’s Police Medal in recognition of her significant contribution to policing

She said she was ‘absolutely stunned, utterly delighted and humbled’ by the honour.

She told the Mail: ‘I have been so fortunate to work in sports broadcasting for three decades and at a time of huge change regarding women’s sport.

‘For women of my generation who love sport it is brilliant and heartwarming to see young girls on Saturday and Sunday mornings heading into football and rugby clubs around the country to play sport with their friends, scenes that were unimaginable to me as a child.’

She added that the success of the Lionesses and the Red Roses this year was ‘the icing on the cake’ and the huge audiences that witnessed both triumphs ‘only further enhances the profile and popularity of women’s sport’.

Ms Logan said: ‘I am also delighted that my award is also for charity, as this platform enables me to talk about the incredible work carried out by the charities I spend time with, in particular Muscular Dystrophy UK and the work of the My Name’s Doddie Foundation for MND. 

‘It is one of the great privileges of my working life that I can help amplify the message of both of these brilliant organisations who touch the lives of thousands of people in this country.’

Ms Logan, who began her broadcasting career in 1992, joined the BBC in 2007 and has presented among others, the Final Score and Invictus Games, and covered multiple Olympic Games, World Cups and Commonwealth Games.

Ms Budge, who stepped down as Hearts chairman after more than 11 years earlier this month, meanwhile, has been awarded an OBE for services to sport and to the community in Midlothian.

Hilary Alba, 54, a specialist midwife from Glasgow, has been awarded the MBE

Eve Graham, former member of The New Seekers, has been made an MBE

The businesswoman’s investment helped save the Scottish premiership club in 2014 and this summer she brokered a deal that led Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club owner Tony Bloom to pay £10 million for a 29 per cent stake in Hearts.

She said being named in the King’s New Year Honours list was ‘an incredibly proud moment’ for both her and her family.

Ms Budge, 77, added: ‘Although sport has been such a big part of my life over the past decade, so too has community. Transforming Hearts’ relationship with the local community, and driving it forward, has been a passion of mine. To therefore be recognised for services to both sport and community is a very rewarding feeling.’

She also thanked the staff at the club, saying ‘without their involvement, we would not have been able to achieve what we set out to do, returning the club to the top of Scottish football. This honour is as much theirs as it is mine.’

A Hearts spokesman added: ‘Ann’s story has been told many times, and it will continue to be told for years to come, such is her significance in rescuing the club before restoring its reputation both on and off the pitch.

‘It is a fitting tribute that ‘Queen Ann’ be recognised by King Charles III, and we look forward to welcoming back our Honorary President as the proud recipient of an OBE.’

And 1970s singer Ms Graham, from Perth, who found fame with the New Seekers has been made an MBE for her services to the music industry.

The band had international success with tracks like I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing, with Oasis reportedly having to pay them £175,000 in 1995 after parts of the 1971 hit was used by the Gallagher brothers in their 1994 single Shakermaker.

Ms Graham and her band were also Britain’s Eurovision entry in 1972 and performed at Richard Nixon’s inauguration ball the following year.

A Royal Navy sailor who used his naval experience to coordinate the relief effort when 165mph winds battered his native Caribbean islands, leaving several dead and thousands displaced, also made it on to this year’s list.

Ashta McMillan, known as Ash, had been visiting the Commonwealth nation in July when Storm Beryl struck the island chain of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

His swift actions are said to have ‘saved lives, providing comfort and aid to devastated communities’.

The 44-year-old father-of-one, who lives in Scotland, said the award was ‘unexpected and deeply humbling’ to be awarded an MBE.

He added: ‘Being able to help my country at such a critical moment, and to raise awareness of what people were facing back home, meant a great deal to me.’

He was just one of several unsung heroes to be awarded a gong.

Another was Lorna Dawson, head of forensic science at the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, who is to be awarded a damehood for services to innovations in soil and forensic science.

Ms Dawson’s expertise in unearthing crucial evidence has been pivotal in a string of high-profile cases, including the conviction of World’s End murderer Angus Sinclair.

She also gave evidence at the inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh in police custody and examined soil from the vehicle of William MacDowell, who was convicted of murdering Renee MacRae and her three-year-old son, Andrew, in 1976, during a high-profile trial in 2022.

She said: ‘This honour recognises the power of scientific innovation, partnership and how forensic soil science can support justice on a national and global scale.’