Lifetime achievement award for Far North journalist
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A WELL KNOWN far north journalist, who was brought up as a teenager in Armadale on the north coast of Sutherland, is to be recognised with a lifetime achievement award.
Iain Grant, who has been both a freelance correspondent – contributing to the Northern Times – and editor of the John O’ Groat Journal and Caithness Courier, is to receive this year’s Barron Trophy, which recognises lifetime achievement in journalism in the Highlands and Islands, at the local press ball on Friday, February 7.
Iain, who lives in Thurso and is still actively working as a freelance journalist, is married to Jane and they have three grown up children.
He was born in Renfrewshire and moved, at the age of 13, to Armadale, where his late father John was a GP. A former pupil of Thurso High School, Iain is a social science graduate of Edinburgh University.
On entering journalism, he had spells as both a senior reporter and editor at the John O’Groat Journal and Caithness Courier but is best known for his many years of service as a freelance, notably for the Press and Journal, as well as for other dailies and for broadcasters.
In his nomination, Alan Hendry, interim content editor of the two Caithness papers, described Iain as a complete all-rounder, covering a wide range of news, human interest, and sporting stories “with total professionalism”.
Alan said: “Iain has an insatiable appetite for news and a well-honed ability to get to grips with complex issues.
“Over the years Iain has built up an impressive list of contacts who know he can be trusted. It has frequently meant he has had a head start when an emergency has occurred, allowing him to drop everything and get to the scene of the unfolding drama well ahead of anyone else.
“His commitment to journalism is matched only by his love of sport – rugby and football in particular.”
