Gordon Christie, General Manager of ScottishPowers Southern Region, which takes in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, will be hoping for some peace and quiet to celebrate his MBE with family in Dumfries.

But with gales predicted to return in the New Year Gordon and his team are on stand-by ready to deal with any loss of supplies that may result.

Gordon (48), of Wolfgill Drive, Calside, Dumfries, was in charge of the team from Dumfries and the Borders which restored electricity to the 4,000 customers affected by the gales which swept across Dumfries and Galloway over Christmas.

He has been involved with several major weather incidents - including last year's Borders Ice Storm - since he moved to Dumfries seven years ago to take up the post as manager of the 270 staff who look after the 141,000 customers in ScottishPower's most rural region.

But he has also supervised multi-million investments which have lead to great improvements in the quality of electricity supplies in southern Scotland in line with heightened customer demand for a higher standard in all utility services.

Gordon's MBE recognises the contribution he and his colleagues have made to the local community in recent years. This includes working with the other services, including local authorities, fire brigade, police, to develop a joint approach to dealing with emergencies.

ScottishPower's staff in Southern Region have also taken part in other community initiatives, including off their own back providing an electricity supply to a woodcutter's forest home so his young daughter could enjoy the warmth her skin condition required.

Gordon joined the former SSEB in 1971 as a graduate trainee and has spent the whole of his career in the industry, serving as marketing and distribution engineer in various ScottishPower offices, including in his native Glasgow.

He is married to Margo and has three sons, Andrew (20), Russell (18) and Warren (14).

Further Information:
Gordon Laidlaw,         ScottishPower Press Office             0141 248 8200