Crofter Agnes in ‘state of half-disbelief’ after receiving honour

Crofter Agnes Leask had “an absolutely fabulous evening” on Tuesday, when she was presented with the British Empire Medal (BEM) by Lord Lieutenant Bobby Hunter in a ceremony at the Town Hall.

“I was still maybe in a state of half-disbelief” she said, “but really it was fantastic. The presentation, everything: it was so happy.

“I was probably the only one that was a little bit on tenterhooks. I wasna really nervous, but a bit apprehensive, shall we say? But it was really all so very relaxed that you couldn’t help but enjoy it.”

Agnes said she was delighted to have been honoured with the BEM, but added that she was, “not so much proud as grateful that people thought that I’d done something really good for crofting.

“I mean, yes, I did my best. I didn’t win all my arguments by a long way, but people obviously thought I’d won what was important to them.”

Family and friends were in attendance for the ceremony, as well as others involved in crofting organisations, past and present.

Agnes wanted to say thanks to those who had turned up for the presentation and to those who had organised the ceremony in “Lerwick’s most beautiful building, inside and outside”.

She also wanted to thank “the people who were conducting the official part of it, because they really put everybody at their ease”.

“It couldn’t have been better.”