Angus Maclennan OBE
14th January
Everyone at the Harris Tweed Authority was delighted to hear the news that one of our board members, Angus Maclennan, had been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the New Year’s Honours list for his long-standing work in Gaelic and Education in the Western Isles.
Angus, who was born in Govig on the Isle of Harris and now lives in Gress on the Isle of Lewis, was recognised due to his important role in the establishing of e-Sgoil (e-School), an innovative digital education project based in the Outer Hebrides.
When e-Sgoil was created in 2016, Angus had already served as Head of Gaelic in the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, so was the ideal candidate to run the project, which he did until moving on from the role in 2022.
While e-Sgoil had Gaelic education at its core, one of the other main principles was to link teachers in specialist subjects up with students of all ages — which took on additional importance when the Covid pandemic struck, and online learning became a necessity.
Angus told us, “Notification of the award was initially quite a shock. That was quickly replaced by a sense of satisfaction in that the work of the e-Sgoil team, schools and the various Gaelic groups with which I have worked over the years was being recognised at national level.
Shock and satisfaction then gave way to a sense of gratitude to those involved in the nomination process, whoever they were. As I have a keen interest in ASN (Additional Support Needs) education and the Harris Tweed industry, the fact that fellow islanders from both sectors also appeared on the honours list was particularly pleasing.
Mòran taing dhan h-uile duine a chuir deagh dhùrachd, cairtean is eile. Cha phàigh taing sibh!”
Congratulations on your well-deserved award Angus!