A MOTHER who lost her son in a tragic accident at an Inverkeithing quarry has been recognised by the Queen in her birthday honours list.
Gillian Barclay is to receive an OBE for her services to dementia care and public safety.
Ms Barclay, from Inverkeithing, is head of the Scottish Government’s Dementia Innovation Team and helped launch Scotland’s first drowning prevention strategy earlier this year.
She told the Press: “It was a bit of a shock.
“It’s a lovely honour to have and I really wasn’t expecting it at all. I’m over the moon.
“I received a phone call out of the blue a couple of weeks ago.
“While I’m pleased to have been recognised, it’s a really big team effort with a lot of work being put in.
“I said to the man who phoned that he must have the nicest job ever being able to tell people that they’re going to be honoured.”
She has worked for the government for 18 years, working in dementia care for five.
“I think a lot of people have been affected by it in some way, maybe through their auntie or uncle or another family member," she said.
“Personally, I lost my dad from dementia last year. It’s important work and it’s very challenging.”
Her 18-year-old son, Cameron Lancaster, lost his life at Prestonhill Quarry in 2014.
She has since supported Water Safety Scotland’s strategy which aims to reduce the number of accidental drowning by half by 2026.
The campaign was drawn up by experts from the Royal Life Saving Society UK, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
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