It is with great delight that we relay the information that historian, author, festival director, broadcaster and film-maker Alistair Moffat has been awarded the MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list 2025, for services to Literature and Culture, and as Founder of the Borders Book Festival, Lennoxlove Book Festival and Kelso Arts Festival.

Alistair commented:

‘It’s a lovely surprise, and I confess to being chuffed! Most things I’ve been involved with depend on lots of other people and their superb support and I want to acknowledge that. It has been a lot of fun doing the book festival, the Great Tapestry of Scotland and writing about the history of places I love. And so to be given such a kind and generous acknowledgement in the middle of the Borders Book Festival is leaves me, well, dead chuffed’

Depending on where you hail from, you may know Alistair best for his 32+ books on all aspects of Scotland’s history, re-telling the story of our nation. Or for the joy that the Borders Book Festival has brought to the area and to visitors from well beyond, every June for the past 24 years (and previously through both the Lennoxlove Book Festival in East Lothian 2009 to 2013 and the Kelso Arts Festival which is now the Borders Arts Fair).

Or indeed, you may know him for his detailed and inspirational work on the story that flows through the Great Tapestry of Scotland which now sits in a purpose-built gallery in Galashiels – a gallery that he fought for and which delights all visitors – local and international alike.

When he laid down roots for a festival in Melrose, Alistair brought the voice of arts and politics to the Scottish Borders at a time when they were adrift from the creators and performers who inhabited or visited the central belt or far further south in London. The reinstating of the Borders railway brought new connections, opening up the cherished Borders Book Festival as a firm favourite in the diaries of all who enjoy intelligent and entertaining discussion and debate, from near and far.

What many will not know is that before all of this, Alistair worked with STV, rising from Arts Correspondent and Documentary maker to become Director of Scottish Television Enterprise. During that time, he was also an award-winning programme and film-maker, and he commissioned brave content others might not have consider, reflecting community and celebrating the individual – two areas that have always been close to his heart. He brought great quality to relatable programming that entered our homes every evening. And before that, he ran Edinburgh’s Festival Fringe for a period of 5 years, during which it became one of the biggest arts festivals in the world.

Jan Rutherford from publisher Birlinn Ltd and who worked as director of the Great Tapestry of Scotland during the making and touring phases, and is now a board member at Borders Book Festival, commented:

‘In all fields, Alistair’s work brings a certain and much-needed joy and depth to life – you know more about the world after a lively conversation, an evening in the company of one of his books, an hour in front of the panels of The Great Tapestry of Scotland, or a session at one of his festivals. The team members at Birlinn could not be happier for him (and we confess to being more than a little proud!)’.

• The Borders Book Festival is taking place this weekend (12 – 15 June) in Harmony Garden in Melrose. (www.bordersbookfestival.org)

• Alistair’s latest book To See Ourselves: A Personal History of Scotland Since 1950, is published this month (www.birlinn.co.uk/product/to-see-ourselves)

• Visit The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels (www.greattapestryofscotland.com)