Mike Edwards, Erskine ambassador and former STV reporter, has been awarded an OBE after being named in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours List.

The 57-year-old, who was the nightly face of STV News for more than 25 years, receives the award for public and charitable service in Scotland.

When he retired from television, Mike became a full-time carer for his mother Margaret, who was living with dementia. Since she passed away in 2019, he has devoted himself to charity work.

Mike served as an Army Reserve infantry officer for almost 30 years, which included tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Armed Forces remain close to his heart.

He now sits as an Erskine Ambassador and Trustee, as well as for the Royal Highland Fusiliers Trust, the Highlanders Regimental Museum at Fort George, the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat and the Glasgow Humane Society. Mike is also a caseworker for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity. In 2020 he was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire.

Mike said: “I am deeply humbled and totally shocked and surprised to receive this award. I can’t believe I have been awarded this honour. It’s all the more special because it’s the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.”

Mike revealed how he nearly didn’t receive the award after learning of the news while he was on holiday, as he initially believed it was an elaborate joke from a friend.

He said: “One afternoon I was walking on holiday when I noticed a voicemail, but I didn’t recognise the number, name or voice. The caller asked me to check my emails urgently and reply within the hour. I thought it was one of my pals winding me up or a phishing scam.

“I had run out of data so I couldn’t look at my emails. When I eventually got a connection about 100 emails dropped into my inbox. At the bottom was one from the Cabinet Office sent the week before, telling me I’d been awarded the OBE.

“I phoned the number in the email and spoke to the official who had left the voicemail message and he told me that had I called an hour later, I’d have been off the list. The rest of my holiday was spent in a trance. I’m not sure I needed the plane to fly home, I think I floated back myself.”

Mike, originally from Inverness and now residing in Helensburgh, is also an author. He has released a number of books, including Friendly Fire, and The Road Home. He plans to continue his writing career with a series of new novels.

Wing Commander Ian Cumming MBE, Erskine Chief Executive, said: “We were thrilled to learn of Mike’s richly deserved award and delighted he continues to support us as an Erskine trustee and ambassador. He has given a huge amount of time, effort and consideration to our cause, as we adapt to change and expand our services for Veterans across Scotland. We thank him for his efforts and are looking forward to congratulating together.”

To donate directly to Erskine, please visit Erskine.org.uk/donate or search Erskine Veterans.

To find out more about Erskine’s work please visit our website at www.erskine.org.uk, follow on twitter @Erskine Charity via Facebook www.facebook.com/ErskineVeteransCharity or listen to Erskine Veterans Radio at Erskine.org.uk/radio or Paisley 107.5 FM