A senior police officer who played a key role in the creation of the new single police force is among a host of emergency service personnel who have been honoured with the Queen's Fire, Police and Ambulance Service Medal.
Northern Constabulary Chief Superintendent David O'Connor is being recognised for the contribution he has made to police service reform as president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS).
His campaign to amalgamate Scotland's eight forces as an alternative to police officer cuts will ultimately see the creation of the Police Service of Scotland (PSoS) in April.
Mr O'Connor said: "I am pleased with this medal but a lot of the recognition has to be for ASPS. While I will receive the Queen's Police Medal, I feel it is only right and proper to say that all I have said and done along the way has been on behalf of the Superintendents and Chief Superintendents across Scotland who recognise the clear need for reform in the service. I was just the leader with the high profile in ASPS, but the members and indeed all of those who have driven reform forward must take a great deal of credit from this."
Mr O'Connor received an embargoed notification of his medal in early December, and said he struggled to keep the secret from his family throughout the festive period. "It's quite a hard secret to keep but it's a nice feeling," he said. "I've got 29 years' service and I will retire from PSoS next year, and I will always look back at the contribution that I made, and we made, in terms of reforming the police service and I have absolutely no doubt that further public sector reform needs to follow."
A senior fire officer who devised an improvement plan for a troubled fire service, and a veteran retained firefighter who has raised more than £150,000 for charity have received the Queen's Fire Service Medal.
Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) Acting Chief Officer David Millar developed an improvement plan for Highlands and Islands FRS following a damning report by public spending watchdog the Accounts Commission which concluded that it was wasting scarce resources under poor leadership and governance. Mr Millar advised the Fire Board on the development of effective governance arrangements, which has resulted in some "marginal" improvements. He also established political scrutiny arrangements in his home service which are now being considered as a national model.
A second Fire Service Medal has gone to Ronald Beedie, who has completed 35 years of service as a retained firefighter and has commanded Ellon station in Aberdeenshire since 1999. He also founded Ellon Open Day, which has raised more than £150,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity and supported many local charities in its 31-year history. Mr Beedie and his team were shortlisted during this year's Spirit of Fire awards, and won Station of the Year at the Fire Fighter Charity Awards 2011.
A Queen's Ambulance Medal has been awarded to a veteran paramedic who went on to pioneer emergency planning and resilience strategies for terrorist incidents, extreme weather and pandemic flu.
Gary Hardacre began his 28-year career in the ambulance service as a paramedic before moving on to management. Since joining the National Risk and Resilience Department in 1997, he has served as strategic manager in the National Command and Co-ordination Centre, developing new departments such as special operations to meet emerging threats and develop hazardous but vital lifesaving techniques for paramedics. Mr Hardacre has managed operational incidents including the Glasgow Airport bombing, royal visits and the Papal visit in 2011, and played a key part in the 2012 Olympics and the development of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
