December 2025 News

Congratulations to Heather Hall who has been presented with a British Empire Medal for her services to the community in Dumfries. Heather was the co-founder and CEO of the Usual Place, a social enterprise that, among other things, trains young people with additional support needs to work in the hospitality industry. Over the years it has helped more than two thousand young adults. The BEM was presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries, Fiona Armstrong, at a gathering of friends, family, and Usual Place staff and volunteers. Heather was praised for her dedication and vision in helping young people reach their full potential. 

Heather Hall photos by Allan Devlin 

The Commissioning Service for Street Pastors Dumfries and Galloway.

The Street Pastors have come to Dumfries and Galloway. This new initiative will see trained volunteers patrolling the town centre at night to offer practical help to those in need of support. This Christian group already operates in twenty-five locations across the country and has the backing of the police. The new volunteers were commissioned at a service at St Mary’s (The River of Life Church) in Dumfries. Among those attending was the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, the Rev Rosie Frew, and Police Scotland representatives. The Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries, Fiona Armstrong, read out a message from HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh, who is Patron of The Ascension Trust which runs Street Pastors Scotland.

And congratulations to Dumfries’s George and Margaret Meechan who have just celebrated their Platinum wedding anniversary. The milestone was marked by a card from King Charles and Queen Camilla. It was presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Dumfries, Fiona Armstrong. The couple met locally and married 70 years ago in Lincluden Church. George, a former pipe major, was employed for many years at a glazing company. Margaret became well known for her work in the community. Both are popular figures in the town.