EAST Lothian golf historian Archie Baird was “very pleased” to be awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Mr Baird, former long-serving curator of the Heritage of Golf Museum in Gullane and the author of several books on the history of golf, has been recognised with the BEM for services to the history of golf.

The Aberlady resident, 93, is the only East Lothian resident among more than 100 Scots honoured by the Queen’s Birthday Honours, where football legend Kenny Dalglish is made a knight.

Mr Baird, a great-grandfather of four, told the Courier that he was “very pleased” to have received the award.

His wife Sheila added: “It was a very nice surprise and a lovely gesture.”

She also explained how her husband, who recently handed the keys to the museum he opened in 1980 on to David and Gillian Kirkwood due to health problems, first discovered a love of golf.

Sheila added: “My great-grandfather was Willie Park, who won the first-ever Open Championship, and one day we were at a sale where Archie spotted some golf balls.

“They had Willie Park’s name on them and he bought them for about 10 shillings I think – that is where it all comes from.”

Mr Baird, who served as captain of Gullane Golf Club – where he is now an honorary life member – from 1976 to 1978, is also a member of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, based at Muirfield.

But he picked out Gullane Hill as a favourite golfing spot in the county, while adding that he enjoys the game for the social interactions and the exercise.

The oldest of Mr and Mrs Baird’s four children, Gifford resident Colin, passed on his congratulations.

He said: “We are very happy for him. We are very pleased that he has been recognised for his expertise in the history of golf.”

Colin, a former employee at East Lothian Council, also told the Courier how he found out about his dad’s award.

“It was in the news on Saturday – my mum phoned me on Friday to let me know,” he said.

“She has kept it a well-guarded secret.”

And there were congratulations for Mr Baird from Gullane Golf Club as well.

Secretary David Morgan told the Courier: “We are absolutely delighted that our past captain and honorary life member Archie Baird has been chosen to receive the British Empire Medal.

“Archie fully deserves this award in recognition of his endeavours to research the history of the game of golf.”

Mr Baird and his wife of 62 years hope to take in the Scottish Open when it visits Gullane next month.