A TEACHER from Duntocher has been made an MBE in the New Year honours list for her services to young people at the school where she worked for 37 years.

Hilda Dalziel receives the accolade "for services to young people in the east end of Glasgow".

Hilda, 62, a lifelong Duntocher resident, retired from teaching full-time in 2019 and left the classroom for the final time last year.

She was nominated in recognition of her work at Whitehill Secondary School in Dennistoun, where she taught biology and chemistry until 2004 before moving into a new role as head of support for learning and behavioural support.

In particular, Hilda went above and beyond the call of duty by buying items of uniform for pupils who would otherwise be unable to afford it, running a night school for pupils who found it difficult to attend during the day, cooking meals for those pupils attending in the evenings, visiting pupils at home when they were in need of extra support, and setting up a nurture group at the school.

Hilda, who lives in Duntocher with her husband Dougie and her pet Cockapoo Isla, is a former pupil of Goldenhill Primary and Clydebank High School. The couple have one daughter, Katy.

She is also an elder at Duntocher Trinity Parish Church - having been ordained into the role in June - and a member of the Clydebank Ladies' Choir.

Describing her reaction when she opened the letter from the Cabinet Office telling her she'd been nominated, Hilda said: "I was stunned. It was completely unexpected. 

"I found myself thinking 'why me - what did I do that was different to what anyone else would have done?'.

"I just did what I could to help the young people in my care."