VIOLINIST Nicola Benedetti has said she is “very grateful” to be recognised in the New Year Honours List.

The Ayrshire-born musician, who is both a performer and an ambassador for classical music, is made a CBE for services to music.

The violinist is in demand with major orchestras across the globe and is currently on tour in China with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She is also a passionate supporter of music education.

Benedetti said: “I am very grateful to receive this honour and hope only to take this opportunity to further my fierce commitment to providing enrichment, inspiration and variation to the education system and communities of the UK.”

Professor Mike Ferguson, regius professor of life sciences at Dundee University, is also recognised for services to science in the list.

Professor Ferguson helped build the Drug Discovery Unit in the university’s School of Life Sciences, which works with international health agencies to combat illnesses such as Chagas disease and tuberculosis.

Glasgow University’s Professor Iain McInnes, the Muirhead professor of medicine and director of the Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, has been made a CBE for services to medicine.

Ann Allen, executive director of estates and commercial services at the university, is made an MBE for services to higher education, while Cathy Bell, former director of development and alumni, is also made an MBE for services to education and charity.

Former athlete Louise Martin is made a dame for services to sport. She played a key role in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow in 2014.

Connor Roe, who was educated in Scotland, and helped to rescue 12 Thai boys and their football coach from a flooded cave, is honoured for services to cave diving overseas.

Scots from a range of fields are also honoured, with the list including a beekeeper and a former postwoman.

Former headteacher Elaine Wyllie is made an MBE for services to the fitness of children. She founded the Daily Mile in 2012 when she was headteacher of St Ninian’s Primary School in Stirling, coming up with the idea of getting children out of the classroom for 15 minutes every day to walk or jog at their own pace.

Charlie Irwin of the Glasgow and District Beekeepers’ Association, is made an MBE for services to beekeeping in Glasgow.

Moira Forbes Welsh, formerly postwoman in Balquhidder Glen, is recognised for services to the community.

Curry chef Raj Bajwe has been awarded an MBE for services to hospitality and charity. He worked as general manager at Glasgow’s Cafe India curryhouse – serving an array of celebrities including Michael Jackson, Sean Connery, Billy Connolly, Keanu Reeves, Mel Gibson and Elton John.