Carol gets Queen's MBE

Jun 19 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

EDUCATOR Carol MacGruer was named an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Carol is study centre and disability co-ordinator at Ayr College.

She and her team have pioneered an initiative giving students with additional support needs the opportunity to go to college.

Carol, whose home town is Troon, launched Ayr College’s study centre in 2000.

She currently oversees a team of three lecturers and 16 notetakers, all supporting students over a range of courses. And Carol paid tribute to her team’s work.

The former Marr College pupil studied English at Edinburgh University, taught at Shawlands Academy, then in London for 23 years.

Carol, husband Ian, and their three children returned to Troon in 1996.

She has worked at Ayr College since then, and in 2002 conceived SkillZone, the dyslexia centre facility.

Her wide-ranging work includes training self-employed notetakers to support individual students, liaising with a sign language interpreter who works with profoundly deaf students, and working closely with technicians on assistive packages.

Carol also makes dyslexia assessments, and has supported and trained South Ayrshire Council learning shop and volunteer tutors.

Outside of work, Carol was a parent committee member of Marr College School Board for seven years.

She said: “I am very proud to be honoured by the Queen, but more than that I am pleased to have provided this service and support at Ayr College.”

nARTIST Peter Howson becomes an OBE in the honours list.

Peter, 51, has gained an international reputation with his powerful figurative style.

And his paintings are owned by celebrites including Madonna, David Bowie and Mick Jagger.

London-born Peter came to live in Prestwick as a four-year-old, when his dad took a job at the airport with Ayr Canada.

And indeed his parents, Tom and Janet Howson are still resident in Prestwick.

Peter, who now lives in Beith, went to Prestwick Academy and later the Glasgow School of Art.

Early work featured street life in Glasgow, and he was later the official British war artist in the Bosnian struggle in 1993.

Recent work has included two nude studies of Madonna.

nGOLFING stalwart Nancy Chisholm was named an MBE for her voluntary contribution to the ladies game.

A former club captain and ten times champion of Prestwick St Nicholas ladies, Nancy has held many senior positions in ladies golf at national and international level. She has also undertaken refereeing duties at many major international amateur events.

In 2004, Nancy was conferred honorary membership of St Nicholas in recognition of her outstanding contribution to golf in Scotland and further afield. She is also a member and past captain of West Kilbride Ladies.

Nancy was elected an honorary vice president of both the Ladies Golf Union and Scottish ladies' Golfing Association in the last year. She served as LGU chairman in 1997 and Scottish Ladies Golfing Association president from 2003-2007.