A double celebration is being planned by the owner of one of Scotland’s most loved pubs after she was made an MBE on the 30th anniversary of her move north.
Judith Fish was already planning to mark the passing of her third decade running The Applecross Inn in Wester Ross when the news from Buckingham Palace gave her another reason to pop the champagne.
Last night, the 62-year-old said she was “very surprised but very delighted” to be named on the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for her services to tourism in the Highlands and to the community in Applecross.
She follows in the footsteps of her uncle, Robert Ryan, who was made an MBE two years ago for his services to weaving and the economy on Mull.
“I never, ever thought I would get one too,” she said.
“It’s for the community and tourism, which is lovely. It is a great honour. It means a great deal to me and we’ve got a great team here.”
She added: “I was planning a party for the 30th anniversary so now I’m wondering whether to combine the parties or have two.”
The former school dinner lady from Yorkshire moved north with her ex-husband on Friday the 13th, in January 1989, after falling in love with the beauty spot on holiday.
Ms Fish, who now runs the celebrated hotel with her sister Carolyn, has become a community stalwart since then, serving as Applecross Community Company chairwoman for six years.
And she said the pub provided an alternative “emergency service” for residents and visitors alike, with staff willing to help out whatever challenge comes their way, be it a car breakdown or a dog with a fish hook stuck in its mouth.
“That’s where really everybody comes – the pub,” she said.
Tragedy rocked the community last year, however, when local prawn fisherman Ali Macleod was lost at sea.
Ms Fish paid tribute to her friend last night, saying he was a “great part of my success at the inn”.
She added: “He supported me for all of my time at the inn, especially the last 20 years, and was certainly the instigator of all my community commitments.”
During her three decades in charge, the award-winning pub has become known as an unlikely haunt for celebrities, including Hollywood star Gerard Butler.
“I suppose Gerard will be phoning me up now (to congratulate me),” Ms Fish joked last night, as she revealed she was targeting more anniversaries at Applecross.
“I love it. I’m here and I’ve no plans at all to retire.”
