Dounreay manager ‘elated’ to receive MBE from Princess Anne
A Dounreay manager with almost half a century of service in the nuclear industry says he has heard from colleagues around the world since news of his New Year honour was revealed.
Graeme Bennett was presented with his MBE at an official ceremony in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh earlier this month.
The 64-year-old from Thurso described it as an honour and a surprise to receive the award in the King’s New Year honour list.
The investiture was presided over by Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, who Graeme said was very knowledgeable about the nuclear industry.
“I had a good discussion for two or three minutes with her,” he said. “She talked about the industry, the onset of SMRs – small modular reactors – that are going to be coming online and alternative energy sources such as wind power and wave power.”
Graeme is head of profession for operations, decommissioning and construction at NRS Dounreay. He took on the role in April 2024, having been head of reactors prior to that.
He started at Dounreay in August 1977 and moved to Rolls-Royce in 1984 before returning to the UK Atomic Energy Authority site in 1999.
“It was a fantastic honour to get the award,” he said. “It was a total surprise and I’m totally elated by it.
“The comments and people I’ve had contacting me since I got it, from all over the world, really, because this is my 48th year in the nuclear industry.
“I’ve made a lot of contacts over the years covering as far afield as America, Canada, etc. so people have been in touch with me and congratulating me having seen it on Facebook and the article that was run on the John O’Groat Journal website when it was first announced at New Year.”
