And there was a standing ovation from pupils, parents and colleagues for principal teacher of expressive arts Jame Brand.
He was named in the Queen’s 2021 Birthday Honours list for services to music and education and finally received his gong from Dumfriesshire Lord Lieutenant Fiona Armstrong during Annan Academy’s prizegiving night last week.
Congratulating him, Fiona also revealed it was the first ever MBE she has presented.
Jamie has been at Annan since 1996 and in addition to teaching, he has always been heavily involved in organising many school concerts and shows, as well as school trips in the UK and abroad.
Outwith the classroom, he is the musical director of Dumfries and Galloway Regional Youth Choir, director of music at St John’s Scottish Episcopal Church in Dumfries and plays percussion in Annan Town Band.
When news broke last year of his award, Jamie described it as ‘overwhelming and lovely’.
He said: “The things that I do are the things that had a massive impact and positive influence on my life when I was at school and I recognise how transformational they were for me.
“I really love the things that I do and it’s always nice to know that people value them.”
