The region’s Armed Forces Champion, councillor Archie Dryburgh, finally got his hands on his MBE medal on Saturday – after almost two years of waiting.
The former Gordon Highlander, who spearheaded the region’s WWI centenary and Quintinshill Disaster commemoration event and has a reputation for supporting veterans in many ways across the region, was awarded the MBE in the 2019 Queen’s New Year Honours.
It is normally presented at Buckingham Palace but was delayed because of the pandemic. However, Lord Lieutenant for Dumfriesshire, Fiona Armstrong, made the presentation during the evening’s Dumfries Festival of Remembrance at the Crichton Memorial Church.
She said: “Archie is one of our hardest working and effective Armed Service Champions. He has done so much to help veterans and their families and this award is highly deserved.
The Remembrance event was organised by the Veteran Garden, the Royal British Legion (Dumfries and Galloway Branch) and the Royal Burgh of Dumfries Tattoo.
