MBE for Lanark's Celia Orr

Now MBE - Celia Orr, at Lanark Cross after the display on Marches Night. (Picture Sarah Peters.)

The honour is given to Mrs Cecilia Lyle Mccafferty, for services to Highland dancing and charity.

Celia Orr started dancing at the age of three and and she has made her life dancing and running a very successful school, teaching Highland, Ballet, Tap, Modern and Jazz. Her pupils regularly win championships, and many have gone on to teach themselves.

Celia, who danced in front of the Queen on a number of occasions in her younger days, has also judged competitions all over the world,

And over the years she and her dancers have raised over £100,000 for charities in and around Lanark. Every two years they put on a show, and the proceeds are swiftly disbursed to local groups.

This year’s, designed as A Night in the Library, raised £4000, which was shared by the Breast Care Endowment Fund at Wishaw General, Action Medical Research, St Andrew’s Drop in Support, Friends of Guiding, Lanark Grammar School, Cargill House Club and the Friends of Lockhart Hospital.

Celia also set up the Lanark Breast Cancer Support Group.

For decades Celia has organised the Lanimer Highland Dancing Championships, which attract competitors from all over the country, but her dancers also play a large part in the Lanimer celebrations. On Monday this week Celia was again organising her pupils outdoors, in an entertaining assortment of dances for the crowds gathering at the Cross on Marches Night.

She has inspired and influenced generations of Lanark, and the honour is well deserved!!