North Sea doyen Sir Ian Wood has been given the highest award of the British order of chivalry.
The billionaire businessman and philanthropist was pronounced a Knight Grand Cross (GBE) at a lavish ceremony in Edinburgh yesterday (TUE).
It was made in recognition of his contributions to business, charity as well as the oil and gas industry.
The award is the highest one that can be bestowed by the Queen through the Order of the British Empire and is rarely handed out.
Another offshore industry veteran, Trevor Garlick, was made an OBE for services to the oil and gas industry.
The former regional president of energy giant BP retired after a 30-year career in the sector in January.
Mr Garlick, who also served as a co-chairman of trade body Oil and Gas UK, recently returned to the fold as head of development group Opportunity North East
Also among the famous North East names read out at the prestigous ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse was a poet, a wheelchair tennis ace and the founder of a cafe dedicated to helping the homeless.
Poet laureate Professor Carol Ann Duffy meet the Queen after being made a Dame in the New Year Honours List in December 2014.
The Glasgow-born writer receives the honour for services to poetry.
Wheelchair tennis star Gordon Reid was made an MBE for services to the sport, which he received in the latest New Year Honours List.
At the Paralympics in Rio last summer, he took singles gold and a silver medal in the doubles.
In January this year he completed a career Grand Slam of doubles titles after winning the Australian Open with Belgian Joachim Gerard, and last year he won singles titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Joshua Littlejohn, co-founder of Social Bite, was made an MBE for services to social enterprise and entrepreneurship in Scotland.
The Social Bite cafes allow customers to “pay forward” coffee or a meal for the homeless and about a quarter of its staff are formerly homeless.
But the highlight of the day was Sir Ian’s GBE, having previously been the recipient of a CBE in 1982 and a knighthood in 1994.
However for the man himself, the award is shared with those he has worked with, including his former colleagues at Wood Group, his charitable foundation and the rest of the north-east.
Sir Ian said: “It’s nice to get an award and be recognised but that’s not the achievement.
“This award is for exceptional service in various areas. The citation states a distinguished business career, services to the oil and gas industry and philanthropy.
“This is shared with some really good people like those at Wood Group and those who worked with me on Maximising Economic Recovery from the North Sea – that’s a real achievement.
“The Wood Review involved talking to a whole lot of different people and getting them to work together.
“The philanthropic work gives me great pleasure, especially the work in Africa where you are working with people who have a completely different approach to life.”
Sir Ian added: “It’s also nice to see the North Sea’s oil and gas industry get an award like this.
“I often find that the north-east in general is forgotten about so its great this award is for Aberdeen and surrounding areas.”
GBEs wear mantles of rose pink satin with silver tassels and a gold medallion collar.
The regalia is meant to be worn on “collar days” designated throughout the year.
It is thought Sir Ian is the first Aberdonian to receive the honour.
Over 40 years, he grew John Wood Group Plc to become a multinational oilfield services company, employing more than 42,000 people in 50 countries with annual sales of $7 billion.
He retired in 2012 having served as chief executive and chairman from 1982.
For the UK Government, he was the leader of the UKCS Maximising Recovery Review which reported in 2014 on how the UK could best maximise revenue from its oil and gas resources.
Sir Ian also founded The Wood Foundation (TWF), which focuses on developing economic opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa and working with youngsters in Scotland.