Moray & Banffshire Heroes 2025: VOTE NOW for your primary pupil of the year!
VOTE for your primary pupil of the year by midnight on Monday, March 24!
READ the shortlist in full.
Madison Reid, Ordiquhill Primary School, Cornhill
DESPITE her tender years, primary 6 pupil, Madison Reid, proves that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve almost anything!
The youngster has been praised for her epic fundraising efforts and also setting up a hip hop dance club at her school. She has also been nominated in the fundraiser category.
Madison (10) who attends Ordiquhill Primary School, Cornhill, raised over £1360 for children’s charity, the Archie Foundation, by Highland dancing in 26 locations (mostly) across Scotland ‒ from A to Z! She danced in Aberchirder to Zoar and for a 10th birthday treat, danced at Disneyland!
A nomination said: “She didn’t stop there! Always sharing her skills with the other pupils, she has inspired a lunchtime dance club in school with some of the other pupils called M.H.E.M. Madison has shown us all that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve greatness. We are so incredibly proud of her.”
Mum Vicky was delighted Madison had been recognised for her achievements: “It’s absolutely amazing!”
Emmy McBain, Banff Primary School
DESCRIBED as a little superstar with a heart of gold is Emmy McBain.
The eight-year-old Banff Primary pupil is a passionate fundraiser who helps out at the Deveronvale Community Hub as part of her weekly schedule.
The charity, set up by Emmy’s mum four years ago, intended to offer preloved football kits to local children. It quickly grew into providing a full range of second-hand clothing for the community.
Her nomination said: “Emmy will talk about the hub to anyone who will listen. She’s a great fundraiser and this year generated almost £500 selling homemade lemonade; she even got her head teacher involved. Emmy wrote letters to local businesses asking for raffle prizes, booked a bouncy castle, and convinced her brother Leo, who has been nominated for secondary pupil of the year award, to let people throw wet sponges at him.”
Emmy split the donations between the hub and Banff Primary School.
Her mum Jillian said: “We are so proud of Emmy and Leo. They’re both excited to get involved and do their bit for the community. It’s heartwarming. Emmy would be over the moon if she won this award, but probably also surprised because she thinks volunteering is a natural thing to do.”
Laughlan Ross, Linkwood Primary School, Elgin
PRIMARY seven pupil, Laughlan Ross, has faced dark times during his young life but he brightens every room he walks into.
The 11-year-old, who attends Linkwood Primary School, Elgin, is autistic and suffers from severe anxiety. When he lost his beloved granny in 2020, he struggled with his loss at the same time as trying to cope with being out of school because of the Covid pandemic.
A nomination said: “Laughlan’s granny was his world. Trying to find his way without her and coping with lockdown was horrendous. He makes everyone who knows him smile.”
Despite his struggles, the youngster shows a maturity beyond his years to care for others and remembers his granny with rainbows and feathers.
Proud mum Margaret said: “He’s like a young carer even though he has a disability himself. He’s all about helping others and wants to be anything for anybody. Laughlan’s a ray of sunshine on dark days.”
She was delighted he is shortlisted: “We’re really excited, he deserves it!”
Lachlan and Thorfinn Wade, Linkwood Primary School, Elgin
WHAT began as something for two wee brothers to do during lockdown in the Covid pandemic, has turned into an amazing fundraising effort which has raised thousands of pounds for charities.
Linkwood Primary School pupils,Thorfinn (9) and Lachlan (6), have been praised for undertaking several challenges, starting with a mini marathon in aid of Moray Baby Bank during lockdown.
Some of their other fundraisers include: raising £1090 for Action for Children in December 2023 after running 50 miles; and last November they completed another 50-mile challenge for the Moray Giving Tree, raising £1250 and buying over 100 presents to help make Christmas special for local families. The remaining money was donated to a food bank.
Overall, their fundraisers have raised £5400!
A nomination said: “They have displayed incredible dedication, empathy, and resilience through their fundraising efforts. Thorfinn and Lachlan are true role models.”
Dad Paul said: “It brought me to tears. I’m so proud of them and so chuffed for them. This is the third year they’ve done something like this, I’m so pleased for them.”
The primary pupil of the year award is sponsored by Moray Ultrasound
"Moray Ultrasound is delighted to be sponsoring Moray and Banffshire heroes again. It's an amazing celebration of all the hard-working, dedicated heroes in our community and we feel privileged to be a part of it all. We have children in primary school in Moray. As a family-run business, this category is exciting for us to be sponsoring. Please vote for your local heroes and give them the recognition they deserve!"
