John Byrne and three other prominent Scots have been honoured for their “outstanding contribution to Scotland’s culture and society” at a special ceremony at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness.

The four individuals each received the 2016 Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun Award in recognition of their outstanding achievements in the fields of science, the arts and public life.

Established in 1988, this year’s Fletcher of Saltoun Awards are part of a programme of events marking the Saltire Society’s 80th anniversary celebrations.

The awards celebrate the legacy of Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun, a seventeenth century Scottish writer and politician and patron of the arts during his lifetime.

Playwright and visual artist John Byrne as well as virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie were both recognised for their contribution to the Arts and Humanities.

Gaelic language activist John Angus Mackay received an award in recognition of his contribution to Scottish public life while leading astronomer Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell was honoured with a Fletcher of Saltoun Award for her contribution to science.

The award winners were announced as part of the Saltire Society’s 80th Anniversary Annual General Meeting.

It has also been announced that Former First Minister of Scotland,Alex Salmond will give a special lecture to celebrate the Saltire Society’s 80th anniversary on Friday 23 September at the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

www.saltiresociety.org.uk

Cowal Music Club opens its autumn programme of concerts when jazz quartet Swing 2016 appears in Hanover Street Church Hall, Dunoon on Sunday, October 2 at 3:00pm.

The group, which includes its most recent addition, violinist and singer Seonaid Aitken, plays swing jazz in the Hot Club style pioneered by Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt and will be followed in the music club’s programme by Da Vinci Piano Trio on Sunday, November 13.

www.cowalmusicclub.co.uk

Edinburgh-based blues singer-guitarist John Hunt has released a very limited edition vinyl record.

The musician and artist, who makes his own guitars from papier mache and supermarket shelves, recorded eight songs using a ribbon microphone he designed and built himself using old phone parts and has made them available on a 10 inch album with a print run of only thirty-three.

He is selling the records, while they last, at his Tuesday residency in the capital’s Jazz Bar and on other gigs including his support slot for Nine Below Zero at the Tolbooth in Stirling on Thursday, September 15.

www.johnhunt.org