2008 Honorary Fellowships
Three honorary fellowships were awarded in 2008: Professor Will Maclean MBE, Emeritus Professor of Visual Art; Angela Yeoman OBE, of the Foster Yeoman Company; and Gordon Baxter OBE, of the Baxters Group.
Professor Will Maclean MBE
Will Maclean is Emeritus Professor of Visual Art. Until his retirement in 2007 he worked as a research professor at the Visual Research Centre at Dundee University's Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design. He is also a Honorary Doctor of Letters at the University of St Andrews and a member of the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts. In 2000 he was one of the first artists to receive a Scottish Arts Council Creative Scotland Award. Other awards include: Scottish Education Trust Award; Civic Trust Award; National Heritage Award and Spirit of Scotland Award. His work is included in many public collections in the UK and abroad including: the British Museum; the National Galleries of Scotland; British Collection at Yale; McMaster University Ontario and Museum of North Dakota. In 2006 he was presented with an MBE for services to higher education and art. A Highlander by birth, Professor Maclean's research is rooted in his knowledge of the Highlands, Highland people and their history. He has been associated with the UHI BA(Hons) Fine Art degree at Moray College UHI since its inception and has played a crucial role in its success.
Angela Yeoman OBE
Over nearly ten years Angela Yeoman, in association with the Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI (SAMS), has been central in establishing one of the most significant marine research facilities in the world on the west coast of Scotland. In total, the artificial reefs cost nearly £1million to construct and this was funded entirely through in-kind contributions from the Foster Yeoman Company. Ms Yeoman took personal responsibility for seeing the project to completion through chairing the project management committee and by ensuring the momentum of construction of the reefs was maintained The reef complex now supports a thriving marine ecosystem and is a significant resource for marine research programmes. None of this would have been possible without the foresight and enthusiastic support of Angela Yeoman.
Gordon Baxter OBE
Gordon Baxter was born in Fochabers on Speyside. He studied at the University of Aberdeen, where he graduated in 1941 with a BSc(Hons) Chemistry and Biochemistry. During his 50 years as head of his company, Gordon became the inspirational leader of the ever growing Baxter family business. Some of his well-deserved accolades include 1987 Grampian Industrialist of the Year, 1991 Scottish Marketing Personality of the Year and 1991 Grampian Ambassador for the Grampian Initiative. In 1968, Gordon Baxter received an OBE for services to exports. Over the last six decades, he has been committed to supporting and promoting the growth of Scottish businesses and his constant interest in community activities both locally and nationally has led to various appointments and awards, the most recent being the ‘Freedom of Moray’, recognition from the people of Moray for his many lifetime achievements both at home and overseas.