Royal honour for Applecross innkeeper

A WESTER Ross hotelier recognised with an MBE in the Queen’s New Year honours admitted the agony of keeping mum over the MBE accolade ahead of its official publication.

Judith Fish of the Applecross Inn, honoured for services to Highland tourism and her local community over the past three decades, joked: “I had to have my lips stapled shut because I am not good at keeping a secret.”

She runs the award-winning hotel with her sister Carolyn and said the secret of her success was having a great team of staff and the fact that she loves what she does.

She paid special tribute to prawn fisherman Ali Macleod who lost his life at sea last year and was also a great community stalwart who she described as inspirational.

Also honoured with the MBE was Andrew Dytch, chief executive of Alness-based ILM Highland for services to the environment and community in the north of Scotland.

Dingwall-based Mary Machin, county ambassador for Girlguiding, Ross-hire, was given the same honour for services to guiding and the community in Ross-shire.

Robert Gray Davidson, chairman of Friends of Hugh Miller, was awarded MBE for services to palaeontology in Scotland. He lives in Peterculter.

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