Wick teacher is a true Highland Hero at region-wide celebration
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A Wick High School teacher described as an inspiration to his pupils was among the winners at a glittering celebration of Highland Heroes.
The awards event, organised by Caithness Courier publisher Highland News and Media, also saw husband-and-wife team Martin and Claire Murray of Dunnet Bay Distillers scoop another award for their company's green credentials.
More than a dozen accolades were presented at the special event after over 16,000 people voted in online polls across the categories.
The Dunnet firm was named Green Hero at the 2023 Highland Heroes awards for its focus on sustainability, which includes a recycling awards programme, pouch refills for its Red Rock gin and an up-cycle programme in collaboration with Highland Soap Company to turn its gin bottles into soap dispensers.
Martin and Claire were unable to attend the event on Friday and said they were gutted not to be there to join the celebrations.
Martin added: “We are thrilled to win the award. We are absolutely chuffed and surprised to win this given the strength in the Highlands in this area.
"We are fortunate to have a great team in Dunnet and Sarah Lyons, our environmental manager, has been instrumental identifying improvements that our business can make in the environmental performance."
Wick man Chris Aitken scooped the secondary teacher of the year award, which he picked up at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness.
He has committed his own time and energy to show pupils how they can move on to rewarding and fulfilling careers with their skills developed in his classroom.
Mr Aitken has taken S3 pupils on an ethical hacking course, helped pupils create a "light bike" which was exhibited it at a major science and engineering event in Birmingham and assisted a voluntary heritage group by transforming an old-fashioned rotary telephone into an easy-to-use device that allows oral history interviews to be “dialled up” – allowing older people, including care home residents and daycare centre users, to listen to recordings of reminiscences without requiring an internet connection.
Receiving the award, Mr Aitken said: "I'd like to say thank you very much. It is really appreciated.
"I'm very mindful that there are many, many teachers in the Highlands making a big difference, and making a big difference every single day.
"Every day they come into work and really make a big difference to our kids, so well done to them."
Among the other winners were the Highland Blood Bikes and Rescue 151 crew based at Inverness Airport, while Andy Pearson of RNLI Thurso Lifeboat Station was runner-up in the emergency services/armed forces category.
The brave child of the year was awarded to six-year-old Gracie Andrew, who always takes time to think of others despite lifelong health problems that have already seen her undergo multiple surgeries.
Gracie, a pupil at Newmore Primary School outside Invergordon, attends dance classes and loves cycling, climbing and playing with her friends.
She was born with hip dysplasia, a condition where the hip socket doesn't fully cover the ball portion of the upper thigh bone, allowing the hip joint to become partially or completely dislocated.
She has had five surgeries on her hip, the first when she was aged just 18 months, and has spent long periods of time in spica cast, from her belly button to her ankle.
Mum Katie said: “Gracie’s strength and determination to stay positive and active after so many huge surgeries is incredible, she’s spent so much of her little life in spica cast.
“It’s wonderful for her to receive the recognition she deserves. All of her family and friends are so proud of her.”
Gracie asked that the other children nominated in the same category join her on stage for a souvenir photograph, a gesture that melted hearts around the packed hall.
Meanwhile, the hero of heroes award went to Inverness medic Andy Kent, who showed a willingness to put his life on the line in a bid to help injured people in war-torn Ukraine.
He also picked up the healthcare prize and, despite earning an OBE in the King’s New Year honours list and also receiving the Global Citizen Award at the Scottish Health Awards in November last year, he said the overall heroes accolade topped the lot.
“I really feel humble that I’m surrounded by heroes,” he said. “To win this award from the people of Inverness and the Highlands means more to me than all the other awards.”
