IT'S AN HONOUR

Souness dedicates OBE to Isla, the girl he swam Channel to raise money for | Former PM Brown thanks family after being named Companion of Honour

- DAN WARBURTON

SCOTLAND legends Ally McCoist and Graeme Souness led a cast of Scots awarded prestigious gongs in the King's birthday honours list.

Ex-Rangers striker McCoist, 61, was recognised with an OBE for his contribution to football and broadcasting, after launching a career as a TV pundit following his retirement from the game.

Former Scotland and Liverpool captain Souness, 71, was also handed a CBE, for his football career and charity work.

Last year he raised more than £1million for Debra UK after completing a charity swim across the English Channel.

He was inspired by Isla Grist, from Inverness, who suffers from the painful "butterfly skin" condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

Souness, Debra UK's vice-president, said: "I am delighted and humbled to receive this honour.

"It is wonderful that the King has honoured me with a CBE and it is important to acknowledge the whole team which works tirelessly to find solutions to the intolerable pain, itch and inflammation of this horrendous condition.

"This is for my friend Isla and everyone else living with EB" Former prime minister Gordon Brown becomes a Companion of Honour for public and charitable services in the UK and abroad.

The honour recognises significant contributions to the arts, science, medicine or government over a long time and is limited to 65 people.

Brown, 73, thanked his family and those who he worked with during his decades in public service.