I think we can all agree we will be glad to see the back of 2020.

We have spent months living through a global pandemic and our lives are almost unrecognisable from a year ago. For many, the tin lid on 2020 was the last minute – but sadly essential – restrictions on Christmas and immediately after.

These restrictions, and the personal sacrifices so many people have made throughout the pandemic, are not easy, but they are vital if we want to continue to protect our NHS and save lives.

I want to send my deepest condolences to all those who have lost loved ones to this cruel virus. We must not lose sight of the individual lives behind the statistics and we must keep working together to ensure that we defeat this virus for good.

But as we say farewell to 2020, we should also take a moment to consider just how much we have all achieved in this most difficult of years.

Over the past few months, we have risen to the challenge of this new virus. Confronting it with collective resilience, compassion, and generosity.

I would like to thank everyone who has done so much this year.

Our frontline workers – from health care staff to supermarket workers, teachers and everyone in between – have been nothing short of heroic. Looking after the ill, supporting the vulnerable, and keeping the country going. They have been an inspiration to us all. And our armed forces have been magnificent, helping all parts of the country throughout the pandemic.

So many others have done their bit too. From picking up shopping and prescriptions for those who needed it, to organising spirit-lifting video chats and amazing charity fundraisers – individuals up and down the country have gone out of their way to look after friends, relatives, and neighbours, as well as strangers in need.

With vaccines now rolling out across the UK, we are starting to see light at the end of the covid tunnel. We can now look to 2021 with optimism and confidence, and make it a year of successful recovery and regeneration.

We have put in place the foundations to build back better from covid. From the New Year, with a great deal now in place with the EU, our coastal communities will flourish, and we will open up new global opportunities for Scottish businesses.

The UK Government will continue to drive forward its ambitious programme of economic growth, through city deals, our Union connectivity review, and new freeports across the UK. We will continue to lead the world on climate change and will bring the world to Glasgow for COP26 in November.

With the UK pulling together, 2021 will put us firmly on the road to recovery. The last thing we need in a year of opportunity is for Scotland to be mired in calls for another unwanted, divisive independence referendum. Now is not the time. Scottish people want instead to see the UK Government and the devolved administrations working together, in everyone’s best interest. We urge the Scottish Government to work with us to focus on supporting jobs and driving Scotland’s economic recovery.

As we begin this new chapter, my firm hope is that, UK-wide, we embrace the many opportunities ahead of us. I believe that our future is bright.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year, and a better 2021.

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• The Queen’s New Year Honours has recognised 153 people for their exceptional service to the UK overseas or internationally
• Awards recognise extraordinary people across a range of fields
• Recipients include Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton and cinematographer Roger Deakins, who worked on The Shawshank Redemption and Skyfall, among other films

The Overseas and International New Year 2021 Honours List published today recognises 153 extraordinary people in a wide range of fields. These include, business, charity and voluntary work, culture, development, education, foreign policy, health, security and sport.

Among those receiving awards this year is Formula One Driver Lewis Hamilton and cinematographer Roger Deakins, both of whom receive Knighthoods for their respective services to motorsport and film.

A number of honours this year recognise outstanding contributions overseas and internationally during the COVID-19 response, such as British Empire Medals awarded to Richard Barrow, a travel blogger in Thailand, David Cartwright, Managing Director of ATI Travel in Namibia and Nicholas Woolf, a volunteer paramedic in Vanuatu. All are recognised for their support to British nationals overseas.

Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Head of the Diplomatic Service, said:

I congratulate everyone receiving an honour and thank them for their dedication and years of service.

The UK’s impact around the world depends on exceptional people like those recognised in this year’s Queen’s New Year Honours. We are grateful for their outstanding contribution.

Martin Gordon OBE

Founder and Chairman of the British charity Barry & Martin’s Trust, receives a CBE for services to people living with HIV and AIDS in China.

Martin Gordon is recognised for an exceptional contribution to supporting people living with HIV and AIDS in China and the positive impact that his work has had on UK/China relations.

Martin was awarded an OBE in 1994 for a lifetime of services to banking and finance. He then embarked on a second career of charitable service when he established the Barry & Martin’s Trust in 1996 in memory of his late partner Barry Chan, with the aim of building cooperation between the UK and China on HIV AIDS education, prevention, treatment and care.

Following Barry’s death from AIDS at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, Martin wrote to the head of the unit to propose cooperation between the UK and China. This would be the start of over 20 years of dedicated work to improve care, bring about attitudinal change, and have the UK recognised as partner of choice in HIV and AIDS care as China embarked on a new phase of development.

On learning of his award, Martin Gordon said:

This award will be deeply felt by the doctors, nurses and HIV-positive volunteers who have worked with us in every province of China. It also recognises doctors and nurses from English and Scottish hospitals, who have helped with training in the UK and in China – an imperishable bond between our countries”.

Elizabeth Ruth Hughes

Chief Executive Officer, MapAction, receives an OBE for services to Humanitarian Crisis operations.

Elizabeth (Liz) Hughes is recognised for her exceptional contribution to humanitarian crisis operations. She has transformed the UK charity MapAction into a globally influential organisation.

MapAction is known for its technical excellence and value in providing real-time, critical mapping information for those responding to humanitarian crises. Under her leadership, the charity has not only expanded its deployment of professional volunteers to a growing number of world crises, but has also delivered an innovative programme, assisting many vulnerable countries to prepare for emergencies.

Liz has been an outstanding ambassador for the charity and the UK, personally developing relationships and partnerships with humanitarian organisations in Asia and the Pacific, Africa and the Caribbean, and winning funding support from the US, EU and European countries.

On learning of her award, Liz Hughes said:

It is an honour to receive this award, a leader is only as good as her team, so I receive it in honour of them and the recognition of their work for MapAction.

Suzanne Mooney

Founder and President of the Lost Food Project, receives an MBE for services to supporting disadvantaged communities in Malaysia.

Suzanne Mooney is recognised for her outstanding contribution to support disadvantaged communities in Malaysia through her work as the founder and former President of the pioneering charity The Lost Food Project (TLFP).

In April 2016, soon after arriving in Malaysia, Suzanne created and launched the TFLP, the first professional foodbank in the country. The project collects high quality surplus food from distributors, supermarkets and manufacturers and re-distributes it to over 70 local charities.

It is estimated that approximately 17,000 tonnes of food waste is thrown away in Malaysia every day. This ends up in landfill significantly increasing the level of greenhouse gases harming the environment. Seeing this opportunity, in their first four years, TLFP have provided nearly five million meals to those most in need including orphans, the elderly, refugees, women who have experienced abuse and single mothers.

Suzanne has exhibited tireless leadership of the project from its inception, managing and guiding its development and growth. Her work, and the efforts of her volunteer team, helped thousands of people in need and is changing the conversation about food waste and sustainability in Malaysia. Her success and dedication has made her a prominent ambassador for UK/Malaysia relations.

On learning on her award, Suzanne Mooney said:

I feel very honoured and privileged to work with an amazing team who care passionately about sustainability. The food supply chain is inefficient and generates a huge volume of surplus. By rescuing and redistributing ‘lost food’, we can help those most in need and significantly reduce the environmental damage caused by food disposal.

Barry Hamilton BEM

President of FAST charity, Camposol, Mazaron Spain, previously awarded a British Empire Medal in the military division, receives his second British Empire Medal, this time in the civilian division, for services to British nationals on Camposol, Mazarron, Spain.

Barry Hamilton is recognised for his outstanding contribution to support a community of approximately 4,000 British nationals living in Mazarron, Spain.

Leading the local charity FAST, Mr Hamilton has helped the organisation to provide the community which is a long way from health centres and hospitals, with support when there are medical emergencies. This essential service, and the strong links developed with other charities, has improved the lives of the local community. Mr Hamilton becomes a rare recipient of two British Empire Medals, having previously been awarded a medal in the military division in 1990 for his service in the Army.

On learning of his award, Barry Hamilton said:

I am greatly honoured and humbled to receive an award from the Queen in the New Years Honour’s List. Since leaving a long military career it has been my intention to help and assist the expat community using skills developed in the British Forces.

Having been previously honoured by the Queen during my military service it is unbelievable to be awarded again. I would like to thank my wife Annie, family, friends, Gordon Clive VP FAST and all FAST members for their support and assistance, this honour really belongs to them.

Dr Phillippa Spencer has been awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), in recognition of her support to the UK’s decision makers by her application of maths to deliver consistent, assured data to prevent the loss of life through exposure to COVID-19, Novichok and Ebola.

Philippa said:

I am genuinely overwhelmed by the honour. The award recognises not only me, but an incredible team of people who provide vital support to so many collective efforts. I am beyond happy to have been nominated.

Dr Joanne Thwaite has been awarded the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE), which recognises her service to the NHS during COVID-19, in particular her selfless dedication carrying out repeated and sustained deployments to Hospital laboratories where she supported NHS staff dealing with an unprecedented increase of workload. Using her scientific skillset Joanne worked within diagnostic laboratories, from the very onset of the pandemic.

Joanne said:

I am humbled and excited to be nominated for this honour which also represents the dedication and professionalism of a team of other Dstl specialist microbiologists. I am proud to be a part of that team and that I could help NHS colleagues deliver life-saving care at this time of acute national health response

Dstl Military Adviser Lt Col Gareth Walker Royal Engineers (RE) also receives an OBE in recognition of his performance in command of 66 Works Group with responsibility for Defence’s specialist water, fuel and materials infrastructure capabilities. During a two and a half year period he led vital military support to natural disasters in the British Caribbean and extreme flooding events in the UK, as well as myriad operations and tasks worldwide.

I am absolutely delighted to be receiving this most prestigious award, and am incredibly grateful to those that nominated me. It is a privilege and honour to work in this amazing organisation that is home to some of the most talented people I have worked with. Dstl engineers, scientists and analysts are dedicated to developing and improving capabilities that are vital to the UK’s defence and security, and it is exciting to be part of a team that is redoubling its efforts to meet the future challenges and threats that we face.

We also congratulate Warrant Officer 1st Class (WO1) Ian Conolly, who has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. Ian works as the Senior Acoustic Analyst within the Underwater Group at Dstl Portsdown West. The MSM is a very old medal, first established in the 1840s; there is a strict limit on the number of annual awards and it is now only awarded to non-commissioned officers who have provided unbroken “good, faithful and meritorious service.” The Royal Navy may recommend its award to no more than 49 recipients annually.

Dstl’s Chief Executive Gary Aitkenhead, said:

I offer my sincere congratulations to all those awarded. It gives me great pride to see our people recognised in this prestigious way. The awards are deserved recognition of dedication, professionalism and technical excellence.