Budge awarded MBE in King’s birthday honours list
SHETLAND Islands Council’s former children’s service director Helen Budge has been awarded an MBE.
She was given the title in the King’s 2025 birthday honours list for services to education.
An emotional Budge, who retired from the children’s services role last year, told Shetland News that she “canna quite believe it” and that she is “honoured” to get an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).
Budge spent 13 years in the children’s services job, with overseeing the development of the new Anderson High School in Lerwick one of the key highlights.
Her first job in education was a teaching role at the Urafirth Primary School in 1989, driving from her home in Bigton every day.
She then moved to Dunrossness before finding herself at Hayfield House in Lerwick, the home of children’s services.
After retiring she has spent time helping out on the family farm in Bigton.
“I got a letter in May and I canna believe it,” Budge said on Friday as she reflected on her MBE honour.
“I am honoured and really privileged to think that I’ve been recognised in this way.
“My whole career has been in education, and obviously the wider children’s services as well.
“I always wanted what was the best for the bairns across the whole of Shetland, and I just feel that this kind of recognises some of the achievements that some of our young people over the years have had.”
Budge said at a national level she wanted local children to have the same opportunities as the those in the rest of the country.
She also paid tribute to the guidance and support of colleagues in Shetland over the years.
“I wouldn’t be able to be honoured in this way without that support and help from my colleagues in Shetland as well as regionally and nationally,” Budge said.
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Read more about her reflections on her career here.
It is something of a royal double whammy for Budge after she was invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May which celebrated education and skills.
More than 110 people from Scotland who have contributed to their community and country featured in the birthday honours list – around ten per cent of the total number.
Budge appears to be the only Shetland recipient this year.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said the honours list is a “powerful reminder of the extraordinary dedication, compassion, and service that exists in every corner of our country”.
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