THE JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL GREAT SCOT AWARDS
HOSTED BY ANDREW NEIL AND CO-HOSTED BY SIR JACKIE STEWART
WEDNESDAY 4 MAY * BOISDALE OF CANARY WHARF
Philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter wins The 2011 Johnnie Walker®Blue Label™Great Scot Award
The Scottish businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Sir Tom Hunter, has won the 2011 Johnnie Walker® Blue Label™ Great Scot Award in a glitzy ceremony held at Boisdale of Canary Wharf. Sir Hunter follows last year’s winner, the illustrious painter Jack Vettriano, accepting his award at the climax of a star-studded evening in Canary Wharf’s grandest venue. Scotland’s first ever home-grown billionaire is famous for pledging to give £1 billion to good causes and establishing The Hunter Foundation in 1998.
Earlier in the evening, singer-songwriter Annie Lennox OBE accepted the Great Scot Award for Charity. The former Eurythmics frontwoman, whose music has sold over 80 million records worldwide, is notable for her tireless work in raising money and awareness for a number of charities including Oxfam, Greenpeace and Amnesty International.
Breakfast TV favourite Lorraine Kelly won the Great Scot Award for Entertainment. The Award was presented by Andrew Neil and recognised Mrs Kelly’s services to broadcasting over four decades. During this period, she has helped to launch GMTV and provided entertainment for millions of British viewers.
Racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart, the original winner of the Great Scot Award, presented golfer Sam Torrance OBE with the Great Scot Award for Sport. Sam Torrance has represented Europe in the Ryder Cup and was the inspirational non-playing captain when the team regained the trophy at The Belfry in 2002.
The Great Scot Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to legendary songwriter Bill Martin. In a remarkable career that has spanned over five decades, Bill Martin has written timeless hits for such distinguished names as Cliff Richard and Elvis Presley.
Winners were determined by the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Great Scot Award panel including Paul Walsh, Chief Executive of Diageo Plc, Ranald Macdonald younger of Clanranaldfounder of Boisdale restaurants and Lawson MuncasterManaging Director of City A.M.
In recognition of their achievements, the category winners received engraved bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky, with Sir Tom Hunter being given an extremely rare bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label King George V Edition created to celebrate the first Royal Warrant granted to John Walker & Sons Ltd. to supply Scottish whisky to the British Royal Household in 1934.
Guests of the evening were also treated to a live performance from the legendary Reuben Richards and his Soul Train, of whom Emperor Rosko once said “ Ruben sings Otis Reading better than Otis Reading,”
Ranald Macdonald, proprietor of Boisdale, said; “Boisdale is once again proud to host the distinguished Great Scot Awards. For a small nation, we do rather well and this evening has once again proved that Scotland has a wealth of talent from all walks of life. Sir Tom Hunter is truly a Great Scot and laudable addition to the roll of winners.”