THE founder of a social enterprise tackling period poverty, an actor who has raised thousands for charity, the director of a long-running stage company and the chair of an organisation representing Ukrainians in the UK have all been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Celia Hodson received an OBE for services to promoting period dignity and raising awareness of free period products in Scotland.

Meanwhile, James Martin was honoured with a BEM for services to military veterans and to charity, while Isabella ‘Isa’ Thomson received the same honour for services to community theatre in East Lothian.

Former East Lothian resident Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk received an MBE for services to the Ukrainian community in Scotland.

Celia Hodson

Celia, from Stenton, set up Hey Girls in 2017, with the organisation setting up premises in Musselburgh.

She said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this recognition.

“This award is a testament to the incredible support and collaboration from my team at Hey Girls, our community partners and our customers, and the users and advocates of the My Period app.

“Together, we are making strides toward a world where period poverty is a thing of the past, and menstrual health is a fundamental right for all.”

Hey Girls’ innovative ‘buy one, donate one’ model has ensured that, for every product sold, another is donated to someone in need.

Additionally, Celia’s brainchild, the My Period app, has revolutionised access to free period products.

The app helps users locate nearby sources of free menstrual products, removing barriers for those who struggle to afford the essential items.

She was named the National Great British Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019 and has received numerous leadership awards for her commitment to social justice and community well-being.

Isa Thomson

Meanwhile, Isa is the founder of Tranent’s community theatre group Centre Stage, which has been putting on performances for East Lothian audiences for the past 45 years.

She founded the group in 1979 and, over time, it grew into a popular and well-loved part of the local community.

With members performing a summer show and a pantomime every year, Isa is still involved in the group and is proud of what it has become.

She said: “This is an honour not just for me but also for Centre Stage and for Tranent.

“I’ve lived in Tranent all my life, born and bred – I’m a Belter through and through.

“I’ve known about the honour for a wee while – you can imagine how hard it was to keep it quiet!”

James Martin

James, a Musselburgh resident who starred in the hit TV sitcom Still Game, said he was “delighted and thrilled” to receive a BEM.

The Royal Navy veteran-turned-actor, who played bookie-loving pensioner Eric Jones, has supported ex-service personnel over the years by holding comedy suppers and old time music hall events.

Originally from Glasgow, James, who is now 93, said: “I was delighted and thrilled to receive the honour. I’d like to thank Liz Shannon and Carolyn Wordell for putting me forward for the award. I am very proud of all the voluntary work and fundraising I have done over the years.”

James served in the Royal Navy prior to embarking on his 40-year acting career, having joined up in 1949 aged 17 and serving seven years, then five with the reserves.

In 2021, as Sight Scotland reached out to veterans with sight loss in Scotland with its first ever TV advert campaign, James shared his own experiences of living with age-related sight loss.

He was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration – an eye disease which affects central vision and for which there is currently no cure – over a decade before.

With his deteriorating sight making it difficult for him to recognise faces and read, James got in touch with Sight Scotland Veterans in 2019 after learning of the charity at a veterans event.

A staunch supporter of the Hollies Day Centre in Musselburgh (now the Hollies Community Hub) for many years, he raised funds for the High Street facility by organising events such as his popular fish suppers. He also auctioned a script from Still Game and a signed clapperboard he received when he left the programme, as well as donating hats for a jumble sale in aid of the Hollies.

Over the years, he has also helped alcoholics stop drinking and held voluntary adult literacy classes to help people learn to read.

James first came to East Lothian to work at Greywalls Hotel, Gullane, which was advertising for a head porter in 1974.

It was there he met future wife Christine, who was assistant manager. The couple moved to Port Seton, where for eight years they ran a general store called the Anchorage. The couple then moved to Musselburgh.

James was originally cast in Still Game having worked with its director, Michael Hines, when he played the grandfather in Barmy Aunt Boomerang.

James has also appeared in the Glasgow crime series Taggart, in which he played a murderer.

Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk

Finally, Hannah is chairman of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) Edinburgh.

The organisation, which was founded in 1946 by Ukrainians who came to Great Britain at the end of the Second World War, is the largest representative body for Ukrainians and those of Ukrainian descent in the UK.

It aims to develop, promote and support the interests of the Ukrainian community in the UK.

She described receiving the award as “surreal news” and told the Courier: “It is incredible.

“I cannot quite believe it.

“Although you are told quite a bit in advance, it was not until it was publicised that it becomes real.”

Mrs Beaton-Hawryluk lives in South Queensferry but grew up in Dunbar.

Her dad, Wasyl Hawryluk, ran the Ocean Chip Shop – now Adriano’s – on the town’s High Street for 25 years, while her mum Daisy was a member of Dunbar Community Council.

Mrs Beaton-Hawryluk, 62, said: “When it came through, my husband said to me: ‘I think you’ve got a parking ticket.’

“It was an official thing and he thought it was from a private car park. When I opened it up, it said: ‘Congratulations, you have been nominated.’”