From the Mart to an MBE – John receives medal after two-year wait

A very special investiture ceremony was held in St Magnus Cathedral on Tuesday when John Copland was officially made an MBE more than two years after he was named in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.

COVID thwarted plans for John to attend firstly at Buckingham Palace in June, 2020 and then at Windsor Castle in November, 2021 for Royal recognition of his services to agriculture and the rural community in Scotland.

However, the delay did mean that John’s ceremony was all the more special with the presence and involvement of his lifelong friend, Council Convener Harvey Johnston who spoke to the occasion in the magnificent surroundings of the Cathedral. John was presented with his medal by Lord Lieutenant for Orkney, Elaine Grieve, on behalf or Her Majesty the Queen. Vice Lord Lieutenant Sarah Scarth was also present.

Elaine Grieve said: “As the Queen's representative here in Orkney it was an honour and a privilege to present John’s award. I was delighted to be able to step in and conduct the ceremony here at home in the Cathedral made all the more special given John's prior involvement with the Society of the Friends of St Magnus and that today (5 April) was the first day the new vestibule doors could be used by the public.”

The Convener said he was particularly delighted to be part of a ceremony to recognise an “old friend”.

“This is one ceremonial occasion that I am particularly delighted to accommodate within this hallowed space; the award of Member of the Order of the British Empire to my old classmate, playmate, badminton partner, Harray Football Club teammate, most deeply trusted and highly respected lifelong friend Mr John George Copland.

“John is a most worthy recipient, and I count myself fortunate to be in the proud position of being able to testify personally to the many facets of his life that justify this honour. The award recognises his 46 years of service firstly with Kirkwall Auction Mart and then with Orkney Auction Mart, many of these years as manager, and a further four years in a part-time capacity and the encyclopaedic knowledge he accumulated within that time.

“His ability to recollect with computer like speed and precision not only the people and the places and the prices but even the individual animals concerned over five decades is quite awe inspiring. This knowledge and understanding of the agricultural industry and community has made him the first port of call for government policy officials and chief agricultural officers wishing to gain an understanding of the issues affecting the industry and the islands. His wise counsel is often sought and valued by members of the agricultural community here in Orkney and well beyond.

“He has always been more than willing to use his auctioneering skills for charitable purposes and has been a good friend to many local charities including CLAN, the RNLI, MS Society and the local sea cadets. A keen sportsman with a clutch of parish cup medals for Harray, his knowledge and recall of past personalities and events is also often called on. He played for Orkney Rugby Club in its early days and has been a loyal supporter ever since. John, who was born in Dounby, was a Doonie having entered the town for the first time via the ‘bottom road’ and was named winner of the Men’s Ba’ on Christmas Day 1989.

“His dedication and commitment to the agricultural community is well manifested in his 50 years’ of faithful service, as a steward for the first 9 years and then commentator on livestock at many of our agricultural shows.  His voice has become synonymous with the very shows themselves, but it is the knowledge of the livestock, the exhibiters, and the spectators to at least the 4th generation that makes him such an asset to our community.

“In recent years his life skills and experience have been acquired by the Society of the Friends of St Magnus which raises, invests, and uses funds to assist in the upkeep of our fine cathedral.  How fitting that the much-heralded new glass atrium inside the west door was newly operational on the very day of his investiture.

“Well done John, and we look forward to your continued assistance across our community, and particularly to the sounds of your dulcet tones at the shows after the unfortunate COVID related absence of the last two years.

John, 71, who began a 50-year career with Orkney Auction Mart in March 1969 – the only job he ever applied for - was delighted and humbled by the accolade and the occasion.

He said: “I would like to thank Orkney Islands Council, in particular Harvey for leading the investiture which made it all the more special given our lifelong connection, the Lord Lieutenancy – Elaine Grieve and Sarah Scarth. My thanks also go to Marion Tait at the Town Hall for the buffet and beverages and all my former work colleagues at the Mart.

“I was delighted that all my own family managed to attend, some coming from away, as well as my wife Barbara’s siblings. I wish I could have invited along all my friends also but given the current times, it was just not possible unfortunately.”

John joined the then Kirkwall Auction Mart as an 18-year-old trainee auctioneer in 1969, before becoming manager in 1994 and retiring in October 2015.

He was a senior figure steering the Mart during some turbulent times such as an amalgamation as well as the BSE and foot-and-mouth outbreaks. A significant milestone was the building and subsequent opening of the new Mart facility in 1996.

As to his career for which he has been recognised, John said: “It has been an absolute privilege to work with the people, past and present, and the farming community for five decades and would count many of those as friends made. Receiving the MBE is a great honour particularly for something which I have truly enjoyed doing for much of my life.”