A person who has contributed to life-saving work within the west of Scotland says he was “greatly surprised” when he acquired an invite to the Queen’s state funeral.
Stuart McLellan, from Renfrewshire, was made an MBE within the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June.
He's one in every of almost 200 individuals from the June record to have been invited to attend her state funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
“It’s an enormous event,” Mr McLellan instructed the PA information company. “I used to be truly fairly greatly surprised after I received the telephone name to ask if I want to be a part of it.
“It’s a tragic event… I’m in numerous organisations that the Queen has been sovereign head of, I’ve by no means had the chance of assembly the Queen, however the truth that I’ve truly been included as one of many final MBE recipients below the Queen has been fairly outstanding.
“I’m delighted to be included. I believe it’ll be a tragic event, nevertheless it’ll be good to be a part of a historic occasion.”
Mr McLellan and his buddy Ross Nelson each acquired an MBE earlier this yr after organising the Neilston and Uplawmoor Neighborhood First Responder group.
“They’re volunteers that reply to life-threatening emergency calls,” Mr McLellan defined.
“In 2018, we received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which is the equal of an MBE for voluntary teams. I received nominated for an MBE following that.”
Mr McLellan has additionally secured a whole lot of 1000's of kilos lately to fund very important life-saving tools and assets for distant communities within the west of Scotland.
“My household reside in Campbeltown in Argyll and Bute,” Mr McLellan mentioned. “They wanted a helipad, and the group had been attempting for years to get it, so I managed to do a enterprise case and get them funding from the Assist Enchantment, which is the County Air Ambulance Belief.
“I received them £270,000 for a 24/7 hospital helipad, which is now saving lives every day.”
He added that work has simply began on securing a helipad for residents of Islay, primarily based on the island’s hospital.