ONE of Scotland most prominent churchmen, the Rt Rev James Weatherhead, becomes a CBE in the New Year Honours List. The former Principal Clerk to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, who received the award for services to ecumenical relations and for public service, retired from the post in October.

A Moderator of the General Assembly from 1993-94, Dr Weatherhead, who was appointed a chaplain to the Queen in Scotland in 1990, was born in Dundee and educated at Edinburgh University.

He was well known in British and European ecumenical circles and was a member of the steering committee of the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland.

Dr Weatherhead said he was very pleased to receive the award and gratified it had been partly for his ecumenical work.

Similarly honoured with a CBE is leading Scottish businessman Mr John Lumsden, group chief executive of Motherwell Bridge, the engineering group. Reflecting the international nature of his company's business, Mr Lumsden is a board member the Scottish Export Forum and Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board as well as being a director of Lanarkshire Development Agency.

Also becoming a CBE was Mr Owen Clarke, the controller of Inland Revenue in Scotland, who is due to retire in March. Mr Clarke, who is a judo black belt, said he was delighted to receive the award.

Emminent scientist, Professor H John Evans, director of the Human Genetics Unit in Edinburgh, is made a CBE for services to medical research. Professor Evans, whose work has been acclaimed world-wide, has published a number of books in the field of genetics and radiobiology.

Among those made an MBE was Mr John Leckie, the managing director of the successful Crieff Hydro Hotel in Perthshire, who received the award for services to the hotel industry and tourism. Mr Leckie, 60, said the honour had come like ``a bolt from the blue'' and was a great honour for both him and his family.

In Edinburgh, Mrs Elizabeth Glasgow becomes an MBE for her work in the Wester Hailes community where she has lived for almost 25 years.

Her husband, John, said: ``She deserves the award for all the hard work she has done in the community. A few times I've had to make the dinner because she has been so busy with one committee and another.''

Mr Glasgow said the news had come as a shock to his 62-year-old wife but she was very pleased and had let the secret slip to their three sons and four daughters at Christmas. The family are now planning a party at New Year to celebrate.

Other MBEs include Mr Walter Ross, conductor of the Penston Silver Band in East Lothian for services to music, Mr William McGowan, a farmer, for services to the cattle industry in Fife, and Mrs Florence MacKenzie, director of the Scottish Architectural Heritage Trust for services to the restoration of church buildings.

Those who received the OBE included Mr Dennis Car michael, honorary treasurer of the Lawn Tennis Association for services to lawn tennis and Hugh Watson, commandant at the Scottish Police College at Tulliallan.

Mrs Jessie Haggarty, 84, who founded the Stewart School of Dancing in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, 70 years ago is made an MBE. Mrs Haggarty, four of whose pupils became world Highland dancing champions, has taught in Canada, Australia, and the US.

She said: ``I am delighted to have been recognised in this manner. I look upon this as an honour for Highland dancing and recognition of the contribution it makes to Scottish culture.''