Forres community champion George Alexander made an MBE
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A RESPECTED member of the Forres community has been made an MBE in the King's birthday honours.
Former Forres Academy teacher and Moray Council Leader, George Alexander (73) of Waterford Farm, said: "I am honoured that my peers in the community should think that I am deserving of such an award.
"But I am also humbled because anything I have done for Forres has been done with the help and encouragement of a host of wonderful people.
"Although it is my name that is on the award, I see it as a recognition of all the fantastic community projects that have been, and continue to, be carried out to the benefit of our fellow citizens."
As a teacher, George contributed far more than his allotted hours, being actively involved in extracurricular activities that added to the pupils' learning experience. These included coaching football and helping out at breakfast club.
He said: "I've always enjoyed helping young people to make the best of what opportunities are available to them, even when they find it difficult to see the opportunities that arise."
Following retirement, George was elected as a Moray Councillor for Forres, serving the area for 10 years.
He said: "I found the role of elected representative frustrating but there were joyous occasions when I helped members of the public to find their way through the labyrinth of red tape to achieve entitlement.
"Being a local councillor can be a very thankless task. Westminster and Holyrood governments have control of at least 80 per cent of the councils' budget and the direct grant from them has not kept up with inflation over the past 15 years at least, and it increasingly comes with strings attached. Councillors have very little scope to improve the basic services that make our lives more bearable.
"However, being a staunch believer in democracy, I would still have made the same decision to stand for election and I wish many more would do so."
George was instrumental in bringing the European Pipe Band Championship to Forres, spearheading the campaign to set up Forres Events Ltd to bid for and manage the event. He gained Moray Council’s support and negotiated with Benromach Distillery to be the principal sponsor. The event brought over 15,000 visitors to Forres and contributed around £1.25 million to the local economy, repeated each of three years of hosting the event.
He said: "The original idea was to make it an event to mark the millennium but the Forres Community Activities Association (FCAA) was not capable of raising the finances necessary and by 2003 the idea was in abeyance.
"In 2008, the late David Urquhart approached the FCAA with an offer to sponsor the 2009 Scottish Week under the Benromach banner. It was a massive success.
"Following the 2009 event, David also sponsored the 2012 event and I passed him the correspondence between the FCAA and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association from 2003 suggesting that any championship coming to Forres would be a success.
"David's success in getting the second most important championship - second only to the World's in Glasgow - was a tremendous achievement and from 2013 to 2018 inclusive the event brought a massive influx of people to the town."
George formed Forres Heritage Trust (FHT), initially to take over the running of the Tolbooth from Moray Council. Having been first built in the late 12th century, the latest version, built in 1839, required refurbishment. However, the local authority was unable to prioritise its upkeep so George negotiated a Community Asset Transfer and the volunteers extensively refurbished the building for community use.
The trust also took over the running of Nelson’s Tower, making it a popular attraction. Volunteers now provide guided tours from April to September.
George said: "FHT is a wonderful legacy left to the town by the late John Mackenzie, ably assisted by his family. When Moray Council declared in 2010 that they no longer had a use for the building, John swung into action and by 2013 the newly created FHT had achieved ownership and gained a certificate of use for Nelson's Tower so that it could be opened to the building."
He added: "I am one part of a huge volunteering effort along with so many Forresians who put in a great effort to make Forres a pleasant place to live and to rear a family."
George also helps Forres Activities Association organise the tri-annual Forres Scottish Week and the annual Forres Youth Concert.
In appreciation of his diligent efforts, he was made a Burgess of the Royal Burgh of Forres in 2015.
He finished: "There are so many people in Forres who do every bit as much work for the community as I do - many of them have done so for decades.
"I have had many fine examples to follow such as three who are no longer with us, namely John Mackenzie, Harry Morgan and Sandra MacIver. I had the privilege of working with all three and they were a great inspiration.
"Some folk believe heaven is a place you might end up in after your time on earth is ended. I believe the human race has all the skills to create heaven in this life and the people of Forres and the surrounding area are doing their best to achieve that."
