Julie Fowlis named as University of the Highlands and Islands Alumnus of Year

26th November 2013

Scottish singer and multi-instrumentalist Julie Fowlis has been named as the University of the Highlands and Islands Alumnus of the Year. The annual award is given to a former student for services to the community, achievements in arts or sciences, business or in public or academic life.

The 35 year old graduated from the university in 2011 with an MA in material culture and the environment. Brought up on North Uist and later in Ross-shire, she has been an ambassador for Gaelic music and culture over the course of a solo career which has included numerous awards, worldwide performances and three highly acclaimed studio albums.

Julie Fowlis was presented with her award by university chancellor, HRH The Princess Royal, at the organisation’s Foundation Day. The event, which celebrated the achievements of its staff, students and supporters, was held at Nevis Centre in Fort William today (Tuesday 26 November). Over 250 guests attended.

The university also presented four honorary fellowships at the ceremony. Golfer Paul Lawrie OBE and fashion designer Sandra Murray MBE were two of the recipients.

Scottish golfer Paul Lawrie won the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999, has played in two Ryder Cups and won eight European Tour titles. He is also known for supporting junior golfers through the Paul Lawrie Foundation and was awarded an OBE in 2013 for voluntary service to golf.

Sandra Murray is an internationally renowned artist couturier based in Inverness. Born on the Island of Lewis, her designs are inspired by her Hebridean roots. She was commissioned to design Her Majesty the Queen’s piece for the opening of the Scottish Parliament and was awarded an MBE for services to Scottish fashion and textiles in 2009.

The outgoing chair of the University Court, Professor Matthew MacIver CBE, was also made an honorary fellow as was Jack Watson, chair of the University of the Highlands and Islands Development Trust.

James Fraser, the university’s principal and vice-chancellor, was presented with the organisation’s first ever Chancellor’s Medal. The award, signed by HRH The Princess Royal, recognises individuals who have given exceptional service to the university. Mr Fraser will retire from the organisation in December after eleven years’ service and a career of over 40 years in the education sector.

Allan Bransbury was made an honorary Master of the University for exceptional service. Mr Bransbury was a member of the small team tasked with developing a university for the region in 1992 and later became the institution’s corporate services manager.

Speaking about her award, Julie Fowlis said: “It\'s a huge honour to be named as Alumnus of the Year. I felt very proud to be one of the first year graduates from our newly formed University of the Highlands and Islands in 2011 and, through continued work as artist in residence with the digital archive project Tobar an Dualchais based at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI, I have enjoyed keeping up those links with the university.”

Paul said: “I am grateful to the university for recognising my achievements in the game as well as the work of my Foundation. It was an honour for me to be a part of this special day alongside my fellow award recipients who have all excelled in their own fields.”

Sandra Murray said: “On first impression, this award took me by total surprise. Then I was reminded of the amazing Gaelic poem by Colin Masterton from Plockton called ‘Cò Mi?’ (‘Who am I?’) which is about Scotland talking to herself. The words can describe any practising artist today and the challenges they face, especially in the remote Highlands of Scotland, wondering if anyone local even notices they exist. This proves they do and confirms that awards and fellowships serve not just as measures of recognition, but more importantly, of encouragement. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like a compliment from time to time!”

The Foundation Day ceremony was followed by the university’s Annual Lecture which, this year, was delivered by environmentalist Richard Balharry MBE.

Julie Fowlis air a h-ainmeachadh mar Alumnus na Bliadhna aig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean

Is i Julie Fowlis, seinneadair agus neach-ciùil Albannach, Alumnus na Bliadhna aig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean. Bithear a’ toirt seachad na duais gach bliadhna do dh’oileanach a bh’ ann airson sheirbheisean don choimhearsnachd, euchdan anns na h-ealain no na saidheansan, ann an gnothachas, sa bheatha phoblaich no sa bheatha acadaimigich.

Cheumnaich Julie, a tha 35 bliadhna a dh’aois, bhon oilthigh ann an 2011 le MA ann an cultar dùthchasach agus an àrainneachd. Agus i air a togail ann an Uibhist a Tuath, tha Julie air a bhith a’ togail bratach ceòl agus dualchas na Gàidhlig fad rèis-obrach aonair anns an do choisinn i iomadh duais, anns an robh i a’ seinn air feadh an t-saoghail agus anns an do rinn i trì clàran stiùidio air leth soirbheachail.

Fhuair Julie an duais aice bho sheansalair an oilthigh, A h-Àirdeachd Rìoghail a’ Bhana-phrionnsa Rìoghail, aig Latha Stèidheachaidh na buidhne. Chaidh an tachartas, a chomharraich euchdan a luchd-obrach, oileanaich agus luchd-taice, a chumail ann an Ionad Nibheis, an Gearasdan an-diugh (Dimàirt 26 Samhain). Bha còrr is 250 neach ann.

Thug an t-oilthigh ceithear caidreachais urramach seachad aig an deas-ghnàth. Is iad an goilfear Paul Lawrie OBE agus an dealbhadair aodaich Sandra Mhoireach MBE dithis a fhuair caidreachas.

Bhuannaich an cluicheadair goilf Albannach Paul Lawrie Farpais Fhosgailte Bhreatainn aig Cathair na Fheusta ann an 1999, bha e a’ cluich ann an dà Chuaich Ryder agus bhuannaich e ochd farpaisean air a’ Chuairt Eòrpaich. Tha ùidh mhòr aig Mgr Lawrie ann a bhith a’ brosnachadh agus a’ cur taic ri goilfearan òga agus chaidh duais OBE a bhuileachadh air ann an 2013 airson na seirbheis saor-thoilich a tha e air a thoirt do ghoilf.

Tha cliù eadar-nàiseanta aig Sandra Mhoireach mar dhealbhadair aodaich agus tha i stèidhte ann an Inbhir Nis. Rugadh i air Eilean Leodhais agus is e a dùthchasachd eileanach as deachdadh don dealbhachadh ùr-nòsach aice. Chaidh a fastadh le A Mòrachd a’ Bhanrigh gus aodach a dhealbhadh dhi airson a chur oirre aig fosgladh Phàrlamaid na h-Alba agus chaidh MBE a bhuileachadh oirre airson a seirbheis do dh’fhasan agus do dh’obair-aodaich na h-Alba ann an 2009.

Dh’ainmichear an t-Àrd-Ollamh Mata MacÌomhair CBE,cathraiche Chùirt an Oilthigh a tha a’ fàgail, agus Jack Watson, cathraiche Urras Leasachaidh Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, mar luchd-caidreachais urramach cuideachd.

Chaidh ciad Bhonn an t-Seansalair a thoirt do Sheumas Friseal, prionnsapal agus iar-sheansalair an oilthigh. Tha an duais, air a bheil ainm-sgrìobhte A h-Àirdeachd Rìoghail a’ Bhana-phrionnsa Rìoghail, ag aithneachadh daoine a thug seirbheis air leth don oilthigh. Leigidh Mgr Friseal a dhreuchd dheth anns an Dùbhlachd às dèidh aon bliadhna deug de sheirbheis agus rèis-obrach de chòrr is 40 bliadhna ann am foghlam.

Chaidh Allan Bransbury a dhèanamh Maighstir urramach an Oilthigh airson seirbheis air leth. Bha Mgr Bransbury na bhall de sgioba glè bheag air an deach iarraidh beachd-smuain a thoirt air adhart airson oilthigh a stèidheachadh anns an sgìre ann an 1992. Bha e an uair sin na mhanaidsear sheirbheisean corporra aig a’ bhuidheann.

Agus i a’ bruidhinn mun duais aice, thuirt Julie Fowlis: “Is e urram mòr a th’ ann dhomh gun deach m’ ainmeachadh mar Alumnus na Bliadhna. Bha mi gu math pròiseil a bhith am measg ciad cheumnaichean Oilthigh ùr na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean ann an 2011 agus, tron obair leantainneachd agam mar neach-ealain air muinntireas leis a’ phròiseact tasglainn didseatach Tobar an Dualchais, a tha stèidhte aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI, tha e a’ còrdadh rium na ceanglaichean sin a chumail suas leis an oilthigh.”

Thuirt Paul: “Tha mi taingeil don oilthigh airson nan euchdan agam anns a’ gheama aithneachadh, cho math ris an obair agam leis an Stèidheachd agam. Is e urram mòr a bh’ann dhomh a bhith pàirt den latha sònraichte seo cuide ris an fheadhainn eile a bhuannaich duaisean a th’ air a bhith air leth soirbheachail anns na raointean aca fhèin.”

Thuirt Sandra Mhoireach: “An toiseach, chuir an duais seo iongnadh mòr orm. An uair sin chuimnich mi am pìos bàrdachd Gàidhlig mìorbhaileach le Colin Masterton às a’ Phloc, air a bheil ‘Cò Mi?’ a tha mu dheidhinn Alba a’ bruidhinn rithe fhèin. Tha na faclan a’ toirt tuairisgeul air neach-ealain sam bith air a’ Ghàidhealtachd an-diugh agus na dùbhlain a tha romhpa, gu sònraichte air Gàidhealtachd iomallach na h-Alba, a’ ceasnachadh a bheil fhios aig daoine ionadail gu bheil iad ann. Tha seo a’ dearbhadh gu bheil iad mothachail agus nach e aithneachadh a-mhàin a th’ ann an caidreachais, ach nas cudromaiche, brosnachadh. Chan eil mi eòlach air duine sam bith nach eil dèidheil air moladh bho àm gu àm!”

Às dèidh deas-ghnàth an Latha Stèidheachaidh bha Òraid Bhliadhnail an oilthigh, air a thoirt seachad am-bliadhna-sa le Rìseard Balharry MBE.