His fellow directors on the Board of Urras Stòras An Rubha are delighted that Donald John Macsween has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Honours list for his services in the Western Isles.
Donald John has been involved with the project to transform the former Knock School into Aros An Rubha from the very beginning, and is a founding director of Urras Stòras An Rubha. He was the one who convened the first meeting in 2011, to set about deciding how to use the building for the benefit of the community. At this meeting it was decided to try to acquire the building and set about seeking funding to develop it into a community hub. This led to the formation of the company Urras Stòras An Rubha in April 2012.
Urras Stòras An Rubha, through the dedication, hard work and persistence of its directors has been able to provide the vibrant community hub that we now have in the award-winning Aros An Rubha, which has given accommodation for offices, for a shop and café, exhibition space, meeting and hot-desking facilities, and a launderette. Donald John, and Point and Sandwick Trust of which he is CEO, have had a key role in ensuring that the project reached fruition, by providing both ideas and funding.
The Board and employees of Urras Stòras An Rubha wish to convey our heartiest congratulations to him on this well-deserved honour.