Tayside Bobby Wins National Rural Hero Award

A Tayside policeman, who has helped hundreds of youngsters gain confidence through learning the sport of angling, has won the prestigious Rural Hero Award at the Scottish Countryside Alliance Awards. Rural businesses from throughout Scotland were also presented with SCA Awards for excellence in a ceremony at the Scottish Parliament yesterday evening (Wednesday, 26 January).

The SCA Rural Hero Award, recognising outstanding personal contributions to country life and communities, went to Blairgowrie PC Grev Humphrey. In his spare time, PC Humphrey drives the activities of Angling for Youth Development (AFYD), a charity which has introduced young people of all backgrounds and abilities to the sport through expert instruction in game, course and sea fishing.

Finalists from the Borders to Aberdeenshire and the Highlands and Islands also won SCA awards for producing local food, running village shops and post offices, rural enterprises, traditional businesses and promotion of bio-diversity through country sports.

The winners, highly commended, and finalists are:

SCA BEST LOCAL FOOD AWARD

Winner: Food from Argyll, Campbeltown, Argyll
www.foodfromargyll.com
“For taking local food to new audiences including music-festival-goers and rugby fans.”

Highly Commended: Connage Highland Dairy, Ardersier, Invernesshire
“For creating wonderful cheeses which have safe-guarded the dairy farm.”
www.connage.co.uk

Finalist: Ardross Farm, Elie, Fife
www.ardrossfarm.co.uk

Finalist: Summer Isles Foods, Achiltibuie, Ross-shire
www.summerislesfoods.com

SCA BEST VILLAGE SHOP / POST OFFICE AWARD

Winner: Bridge of Cally Post Office, Bridge of Cally, Perthshire
“The loyalty of their customers says it all.”

Finalist: Mither Tongue, Keith, Aberdeenshire
www.mithertongue.co.uk

Finalist: Scottish Deli / Menzies of Dunkeld, Dunkeld, Perthshire
www.scottish-deli.com

Finalist: Ravenstone Deli, Whithorn

SCA BEST RURAL ENTERPRISE AWARD

Winner: Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport Company, Aviemore, Inverness-shire
“A rural enterprise that really helps rural people.”
www.ct4u.co.uk

Highly Commended: Armadilla, Rosewell, Midlothian
“An innovative product with real rural tourism potential.”
www.armadilla.co.uk

Finalist: Craigies Farm, Deli and Café, Edinburgh
www.craigies.co.uk

Finalist: MacBeths, Forres, Morayshire
www.macbeths.com

SCA BEST TRADITIONAL BUSINESS AWARD
Winner: Mitchells, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
“Service to customers is key.”
www.mitchells-scotland.com

Highly Commended: R Macleod & Son, Tain, Ross-shire
“For dedication to shooting sports and the trade.”
www.rmacleod.co.uk

Finalist: JC Douglas, St Boswells, Roxburghshire
www.jcdouglasqualitybutcher.co.uk

Finalist: Winston Churchill Venison, Dunoon, Argyll
www.winstonchurchillvenison.com

SCA BIODIVERSITY THROUGH COUNTRYSPORTS AWARD

Winner: Philiphaugh Estate, Selkirk, Selkirkshire
“Gamekeeper led walks, a visitor centre and an educational website.”
www.salmonviewingcentre.com

Finalist: Alvie & Dalraddy Estates, Kingussie, Invernesshire
www.alvie-estate.co.uk

SCA RURAL HERO AWARD

PC Grev Humphrey
“Gets youngsters off the streets and hooked on fishing.”
www.afyd.co.uk

The awards were presented by Angus MSP Andrew Welsh, the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee Convener. Mr Welsh said: “These awards recognise the enthusiasm, hard work and innovation of people in businesses and organisations which are so vital to rural Scotland’s well being and quality of life.”

Ross Montague, director of the Scottish Countryside Alliance, said: “The shortlisting and then judging of finalists was extremely difficult but that is a good sign that Scotland’s countryside has a range of thriving and imaginative businesses, created by hard working people.

“The SCA Rural Hero Award this year attracted nominations ranging from district nurses and gamekeepers to the staff of a local radio station and, though only the winner is made public, these people are superb examples of the energetic community spirit to be found across Scotland’s countryside.”

The winners of the SCA Best Rural Enterprise Award, Best Traditional Business Award, Best Village Shop / Post Office Award and Best Local Food Awards will now go on to represent Scotland against regional winners from England and Wales in a GB wide Countryside Alliance competition. The winners of which will be announced at a special ceremony in the House of Lords at the end of March.