The President’s Award is our highest honour, recognising exceptional volunteering services to the charity. All our volunteers are amazing, but only a select few receive our highest honour.
In 2021, we were delighted to present the President’s Award to five outstanding volunteers.
Poppyscotland President Sir Alistair Irwin presented two awards at the Inverness Town House and three awards at the Scottish Parliament.
Read more about four of our 2021 award winners below.
Donna Armstrong - Poppy coordinator
During the 2020 Poppy Appeal Donna's area showed an increase of 57% over the previous year, despite COVID restrictions! But Donna doesn’t just help coordinate the Poppy Appeal, she has: marched the Kiltwalk dressed as a giant poppy; organised race nights; manned gala day stalls and run an indoor picnic based on last night at the proms; held coffee mornings and raffles and has baked countless hundreds of shortbread poppies; and she even wing-walked as part of her #1921PoppyPledge to raise £1,921 in celebration of 100 years of the Poppy. Thank you Donna, you’re incredible!
The Flying Fifers – Fundraising champions
This team of veterans have raised a huge amount of money for us over the years by taking part in numerous cycling challenges: the Cycle of Remembrance events to the Somme Battlefield in 2016; the 2018, 2019 and 2021 Poppy Pledges; a 700 mile cycle ride from Leven to Compiègne in France; and a 1000 mile ride between Land’s End and John o’ Groats. They have also run marathons, taken part in the Tough Mudder and bungee-jumped. The Flying Fifers are great examples of selfless volunteer fundraisers and are more than deserving of this collective President’s Award. Well done guys, and thank you!
Albert Duffus - Champion Fundraiser
Albert organises and hosts the annual Mark Duffus Memorial Golf Tournament, held at Forres Golf Club in loving memory of his son. As well as golf, the occasion includes a raffle and auction. Over the last eight years this amazing event has raised over £15,000 for Poppyscotland. Albert and his son Mark both served in the Queen’s Own Highlanders. Mark was killed at North Gate Camp, Kabul, by suicide bombers while he was working for a security firm. Thank you Albert, you are a very worthy recipient of this award.
Susan Little - Volunteer
Susan has been a dedicated and highly successful volunteer and a prominent figure in the Broughty Ferry Poppy Appeal for 46 years and for the last 20 years she has been the local Poppy Appeal organiser. Susan plays a leading part in organising regular soup lunches at her local church, with profits all coming to Poppyscotland.
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