TWO Peebles men have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Adrian Lucas and Ian Jenkins have been awarded MBEs (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the list announced on Friday (June 16).

They were honoured for their charity and veterans in Scotland, and services to charity and to the community in Peebles respectively.

Mr Lucas said: “I’m delighted. It’s very touching and a great honour. People have told me it’s well deserved but I think there are many others more deserving.

“The letter came out of the blue and there was no hint so it was a complete surprise. The medal will be presented at an investiture but I don’t know where or when that will be."

Mr Lucas, who represents His Majesty as a Deputy Lieutenant for Tweeddale, enjoyed a distinguished career spanning three decades as chief executive officer for Greater Manchester Ambulance Service, then as CEO of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

During that time he oversaw a modernisation programme entitled Beyond 2000 which included the introduction of state-of-the-art emergency medical dispatch centres in Inverness, Edinburgh and Paisley which saved lives by prioritising those with life-threatening conditions.

In 2008 his son Alec was killed while on active duty in Afghanistan aged jut 24.

Mr Lucas and his grieving family founded the Alec Lucas Memorial Trust, and the football tournament and family fun day is now a highlight of the Peebles calendar.

The trust has raised over £140,000 and made donations of around £100,000.

His voluntary post of chairman of the Soldiers', Sailors', and Airmen's Families Association (SSAFA) for the Borders, has seen him provide great leadership and commitment to the welfare of retired service personnel in the region.

“The trust has raised around £140,000 since we started and we held our annual tournament earlier this month which Peebles Rovers won," he said. "Now the tournament isn’t about raising large sums of money, and for me it’s more about seeing Cara hand out the medals in memory of her dad. And long may that continue, well after I’m gone.

“I am also chairman of SSAFA for the Borders region and I am delighted that this award raises awareness of the charity and what it does.”

He also played a leading part in the organisation of the centenary commemorations to mark the end of the Great War and personally penned 230 names of the fallen onto poppies for display throughout the town, providing a beautiful tribute to those lost.

Fellow recipient Mr Jenkins grew up on the Isle of Bute and worked as a teacher in Peebles before being elected as MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale in the new Scottish Parliament.

After leaving the world of politics, the 82-year-old joined the steering group which worked towards the founding of Tweeddale Youth Action (TWA).

Mr Jenkins has also assisted with the development of the Eastgate Theatre, the Food Foundation, Peebles Community Council, and Peebles Civic Society, and he has been a long supporter of the Beltane Festival.

A Beltane spokesperson said: "Congratulations to Ian Jenkins, Warden of Neidpath 2000, who has been awarded a MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list.

"When Ian was our Warden of Neidpath in 2000 he was a current sitting MSP in the first Scottish Parliament, taking on the role in 1999 and continuing until 2003.

"Many of us will remember him as an excellent teacher at Peebles High School.

"A fine gentleman who has given so much to our county and community through his voluntary work. A very well-deserved honour."

An Eastgate spokesperson added: "Enormous congratulations to former board chair and Eastgate stalwart Ian Jenkins for his richly-deserved award today in the King’s Birthday Honours. We are all absolutely delighted for you!"