University of Edinburgh Community Receives King’s Honours Recognition

The King’s Birthday Honours are announced each year to mark extraordinary contributions and achievements of people across the United Kingdom, including exceptional service to the UK overseas or internationally.

This year is King Charles III’s second Birthday Honours list.

Medical research

Professor Moira Whyte OBE, the Sir John Crofton Professor of Respiratory Medicine, has been appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Professor Whyte was formerly Director of the University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research and Head of Edinburgh Medical School.

She held the position of Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh from 2018 to 2023.

Community service

Professor Donald Murray Campbell, Professor of Musical Acoustics, has been awarded an Order of the British Empire for services to the Carlops Church and to the local community in Tweeddale and Edinburgh.

Ultra running

Dr Jasmin Paris, an ultramarathon runner and veterinarian and research scientist in the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, has been awarded an Order of the British Empire for services to fell and long-distance running.

Earlier this year Dr Paris made history as the first woman to complete the Barkley Marathons, one of the world’s most challenging endurance races.

She finished the 100-mile competition, featuring 63,000 feet of elevation gain, within the 60-hour time limit.

Charitable services

Former Prime Minister, Rector and graduate of the University of Edinburgh, RT Hon Gordon Brown, has been appointed as a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, in recognition of his contributions to public and charitable services in the UK and abroad.

In 1972, while still an undergraduate student, Brown was elected Rector, serving until 1975. He later completed his PhD at Edinburgh, before embarking on a career in politics.

The announcement of this year’s recipients was published in the official newspaper of the Crown, The Gazette.