A Moray community stalwart received royal recognition for her years of hard work when she met the Queen this week.
Catherine Flint Millar, 71, was made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list for her work with the Burghead Headland Trust.
She has been secretary of the organisation for 24 years, and helps to run the visitor centre at one of Scotland’s oldest Pictish sites.
Mrs Millar received her honour during an investiture ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Wednesday and was complimented by the Queen for her efforts on behalf of a coastal community that remains dear to her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, from his schooldays.
Relaxing at home yesterday, Mrs Millar said: “It was a lovely day, and it was a real honour getting to speak with the Queen.
“Because the Duke of Edinburgh went to school at Gordonstoun she said ‘my husband knows Burghead very well’, and that was nice to hear.
“She asked about the Burghead Headland Trust and said it was very interesting work.”
Mrs Millar added: “It was a proud day for myself but also for Burghead – I feel the award wasn’t just for me, but was in recognition of all the people who have worked to improve the village.”
The ramparts at Burghead are believed to have been built by Pictish settlers around 400 AD, and when Mrs Millar became secretary of the Headland Trust she launched plans to transform the historic site into a visitor attraction.
In 2003 she received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to make the dream a reality, and since then the site has attracted about 5,000 visitors a year.
She was also a principal player in establishing a community garden in the seaside village.
Before retiring Mrs Millar worked as a primary school economics teacher in a number of schools in the Moray Area, including Burghead, Applegrove and Seafield Primary Schools.