June 4, 2025
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Highland RFCA Defence Relationship Manager Hayley Munro attended the Scottish Veterans Awards on 30 April at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh.
Radio DJ and BFBS presenter Mark McKenzie hosted the event, in association with The Army Benevolent Fund and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
The audience heard from Captain Aiden Flannagan (Royal Navy), Scottish Veterans Commissioner Susie Hamilton and Army Benevolent Fund Regional Director Scotland John Donovan MBE during the evening.
The Awards recognise Veterans in business, fitness, sport and the wider community, those Reservists doing great things and the organisations that support the Armed Forces community.
In Scotland, there are a large number of successful Armed Forces Veterans that have made the transition from military to civilian life and the Awards celebrate those who have gone above and beyond and excelled in their relevant fields.
Colin Vooght (centre) receives the Lifetime Achievement award.
Winners included Lowland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association Head of Engagement Colin Vooght who picked up a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.
Colin said: “Thunderstruck to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you to everyone I’ve met and worked with over the last 56 years.”
The Employer of the Year Award went to Mott MacDonald. Among its many current projects, the company is the technical service provider for the £9.6 million Army Reserve Centre rebuild in Dunfermline, supporting the Highland RFCA Estates team.
Reservist of the Year went to Jon Foden, recently retired from Royal Marines Reserve Scotland. Jon is a Paramedic (Special Operations Team East) with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), which is an Armed Forces Covenant signatory and Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award holder. Fellow paramedic Dan Springett, of Glencoe Ambulance Station, collected Bronze in the Role Model of the Year category. The SAS formed part of a joint Blue Light Armed Forces Networks Committee nomination, and was awarded Bronze in the Veterans Group of the Year category. SAS Director of National Operations Stephen Massetti was in attendance. Stephen is a Highland RFCA Southern Area Committee member and former Chair of its Highland Gold Network.
Nick Robson, Director of Wine Guy on Skye, won Entrepreneur of the Year. Wine Guy on Skye is an Armed Forces Covenant signatory.
Serica Energy staff, from left – Teri Greig, Craig Willett, Karen Clarkin, Paul Minter (Serica guest), Alison Mary Brown, Simone Arvid.
Event sponsors included Covenant signatories and ERS Gold Award holders Serica Energy and The MacRobert Trust. Special thanks to Serica Energy for again hosting Highland RFCA at the Awards.
The Serica Energy table, from left: Adam Riley (Trident IES), Dave Hill (Simplicity in Mind), Paul Minter (HeadUp), and Hayley Munro (HRFCA) with Alison Mary Brown, Simone Arvid, Craig Willett and, front, Karen Clarkin (left) and Teri Greig (all Serica Energy).
Full list of winners:
Veterans Awards Champion: Marty Carmichael
Role Model of the Year Award – Sponsored by Print Inc
Gold: Jim Holburn
Silver: Neil Graham
Bronze: Dan Springett
Bronze: Craig Murney
Inspiration of the Year Award – Sponsored by The MacRobert Trust
Gold: Kevin Gray
Silver: Morag Goulden
Bronze: Michael Mcmillan
Bronze: Scott Hazlam
The Community Award – Sponsored by Forces Employment Charity
Gold: Alan Deans
Silver: John Greenwell
Bronze: Terence McCourt
Contribution to Scottish Fitness, Sport and Society Award – Sponsored by Prestonfield House
Gold: Emily Greaves
Silver: Neil Graham
Bronze: Paul Gray
Health & Well-being Award – Sponsored by Be-inn Unity
Gold: Operation Cairngorms CIC
Silver: Remaster Your Mind
Bronze: Comrie Croft
Bronze: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – DMWS
Leader of the year – Sponsored by The Gen Dit Network
Gold: Martin Nadin
Silver: Matthew Wardner
Bronze: Edward Challis
Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsored by Hugh James
Gold: Nick Robson
Silver: Jock Boyle
Bronze: Michael Holmes
Employer of the Year – Sponsored by Joint Force Alba
Gold: Mott MacDonald
Silver: GE Aerospace
Silver: Inverroy Crisis Management Limited
Bronze: NHS National Services Scotland
Veteran Business of the Year – Sponsored by Strongmind Resiliency Training
Gold: FVF Ltd
Silver: Operation Cairngorms CIC
Bronze: H&M Agricultural Ltd
Volunteer of the Year – Sponsored by Serica Energy
Gold: Marty Carmichael
Silver: Ian Shiells
Bronze: Tommy Davidson
Lifetime Achievement – Sponsored by Thales Group
Gold: Colin Vooght
Silver: Alan Deans
Bronze: Tony Hooman
Bronze: Joseph Docherty
Reservist of the Year Award – Sponsored by abrdn
Gold: Jon Foden
Silver: Graham McEwan
Bronze: Colin Macfadden
Veterans Group of the Year – Sponsored by DXC Technology
Gold: Veterans Tribe Scotland CIC
Silver: Edinburgh Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club
Bronze: The Blue Light Armed Forces Networks Committee
Congratulations also to Fife Sports and Leisure Trust for being shortlisted in the Health & Well-being Award category. The Trust is a Covenant signatory and ERS Silver Award holder. And to Mark Radcliffe of Covenant signatory and ERS Silver Award holder Wings for Warriors who was shortlisted in the Inspiration of the Year category.
