His Majesty’s first Honours list included recognition for Borders-based John Henderson Reid, 67, who was awarded the MBE for services to culture and to heritage in Scotland.
For 25 years, Dr Reid has been chair of the Trimontium Trust, which runs the Trimontium Museum in Melrose, conserves the Roman fort site nearby, and collects archaeological material from the Roman Iron Age.
As chair of the Trimontium Trust, Dr Reid launched a transformative project to upgrade the museum and attract exhibits of international significance.
The new museum opened to the public in August 2021, with an official opening in Spring 2022. It now houses state of the art displays and has secured the loan of original Roman artefacts from the National Museum of Scotland and also from important international collections.
During this time the growing activities of the Trust have engaged the local community and a wider visiting audience through a programme of lectures. The educational activities associated with the trust have enhanced local and even international understanding of the subject.
Congratulations to Dr Reid for his inclusion in His Majesty’s first ever Honours list. It is an outstanding and well-deserved achievement.
Over many years, Dr Reid has grown and strengthened the Trimontium Trust to its current high standing and renowned status.
His work has attracted young people, university scholars and members of the public to the wonderful must-see museum in Melrose to learn all about a fascinating period of history.
I want to pay tribute to all that Dr Reid has achieved. He is a credit to the Borders. What he has built - the Trimontium Trust’s museum, centre of excellence and visitor experience - will have a long and lasting legacy as a fantastic educational asset to Melrose and the whole area.”
