RAB MORAN, a dedicated volunteer from Haddington who can be seen watering planters in the town every morning, joined Craig Hoy MSP for the opening of the Scottish Parliament by the Her Majesty the Queen on Saturday.
Mr Moran, 77, was nominated by Craig Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, in recognition of the outstanding contribution he has made to the lives of other people from his community.
Rab can be spotted out on the streets of Haddington from 6am in the morning watering the town’s 200 hanging baskets as part of Blooming Haddington.
He volunteers for not only Blooming Haddington but also Our Community Kitchen – which aims to tackle social isolation by getting people round the lunch table – and Haddington Community Council, spending much of his free time helping out at community events.
Commenting on the ceremony, Rab said: “I would like to say a big Thank You to everyone for their comments on me being selected by Craig Hoy, there are lots of amazing people in Haddington who have done something very important work during this very difficult time, Kris McEwan for organising the Resilience Group, Pat Lemmon and Graham Samuel and all the volunteers who did amazing work during the pandemic, Elaine Gale and all the very talented people at the OCK who did and still do amazing work and let's not forget Blooming Haddington for making the town look good, all these people are my ‘Heroes’.”
Craig said: “It was my honour to be joined by my local hero, Rab Moran, for the opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament by Her Majesty the Queen.
“Rab comes out in rain and shine to water Blooming Haddington’s 200 hanging baskets and he is a stalwart of Haddington Community Council.
“Throughout the Covid pandemic, hundreds of local residents stepped up to the plate - some became formal Covid resilience volunteers, while others looked out for vulnerable friends or elderly neighbours.”
“I wanted to use this opportunity to thank Rab his hard work in the community, and to thank the many other local heroes, whose efforts often go unsung.”