Dounreay’s Graeme Dunnett ‘surprised and honoured and delighted’ by MBE

Long-serving Dounreay manager Graeme Dunnett admitted he felt “totally taken aback” at being given an MBE for services to the nuclear industry.

The 64-year-old from Thurso is among 110 people across Scotland who received awards in the King’s New Year honours list.

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.

Away from work he is treasurer and past president of Thurso Rotary Club and is well known for his golfing achievements, having won multiple club championships at both Thurso and Reay.

Graeme started at Dounreay in August 1977. He moved to Rolls-Royce in 1984 before returning to the UK Atomic Energy Authority site in 1999.

“I know we’re decommissioning the site but we need to build some buildings in order to dispose of the radiological liabilities that we’ve got,” he said. “So part of that is looking at the infrastructure we’ve got around us and also making sure our people are fully trained and supported for moving forward into the new work programmes.

“Dounreay is going to be around for the next 50 years, probably, and part of my role when I was coming out of head of reactors was to get our team and our arrangements more efficient and looking to the future because there’s another two generations coming in.

“It’s being fit for the work that’s in front of us and making sure we’ve got the development for our teams and the workforce, and the rules and tools for understanding the compliance issues, because there are not going to be many folk left that have operated a reactor.

“PFR shut down in 1994, so that’s more than 30 years.”

A spokesperson for NRS Dounreay said: “Graeme has worked for many years at Dounreay in the service of the nuclear industry, both when the site was operational and during its current decommissioning phase.

“His knowledge and ability is impressive and this honour is well deserved. His friends and colleagues from across the NDA group will be delighted for him.”

Graeme has been treasurer of Thurso Rotary Club for 13 years and was president in 2010/11.

He was captain of Reay Golf Club for eight years, having been vice-captain at Thurso previously. He was club champion five times at Thurso and eight times at Reay.

Graeme has the distinction of being the first person to win the club championships at both Thurso and Reay in the same year, a feat that was emulated by teenager Tyler Gordon in 2024.

“I was really pleased to see that young Tyler had done so well,” Graeme said.

He still has a handicap of three. “I don’t play so much competitive stuff now but I go out and have a game with the guys and pass on any tips that I can to anyone who wants them,” he said.

“I still get heavily involved with the Wilson Cup that’s played between the Shetland and Orkney lads and ourselves. I mentor our guys wherever I can.”

The honour completes a double for the Dunnett household, as Graeme’s wife Sophie (58) was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2020 New Year honours list for services to amateur athletics.

Graeme pointed out : “There are probably not many families that have got two awards.”

The couple have three daughters – Sarah (34) and twins Emma and Oonagh, who are 29.

Graeme was “totally taken aback” by the MBE announcement. He said: “I’m totally surprised and honoured and delighted to have got the award, and obviously the family are too.”

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