Honours for Linda Norgrove’s parents after years fighting for rights of women in daughter’s name

• Couple who channelled grief over dead aid worker daughter into charity in her name amongst scores of Scots recognised in King’s Birthday Honours list 

By JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL

Published: 22:34 BST, 13 June 2025 | Updated: 22:34 BST, 13 June 2025

Their lives were shattered 15 years ago when their kidnapped daughter was killed in Afghanistan during a rescue attempt by US forces.

Heartbreakingly, John and Lorna Norgrove later learned it was an American grenade that killed their aid worker daughter Linda.

Now the couple, who channelled their grief into a charity in her memory, have both been made OBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Based on the Isle of Lewis, the Norgroves said their daughter would have been ‘delighted’ they were carrying on her work – and dedicated their new honour to women in Afghanistan.

Linda, who grew up on Lewis, was kidnapped by the Taliban while doing aid work in September 2010.

The following month a US special ops rescue mission was launched but the 34-year-old was fatally wounded by one of their grenades, dying shortly after her extraction.

In her memory, her parents set up the Linda Norgrove Foundation which gives grants to fund education, health and childcare for women and children in Afghanistan. The couple said: ‘We are a tiny charity, mostly volunteers, who all share the same goal – to make life better for women and children in Afghanistan.

John and Linda Norgrove, co-founders of the Linda Norgrove Foundation, have been made OBEs

British aid worker Linda Norgrove, was killed during a botched rescue attempt

‘Having put a lot of effort into sponsoring women to study medicine in Afghanistan, we were heartbroken when the Taliban stopped them from attending university. We were privileged to have the chance to bring some of them here to Scotland last year to continue their studies.

‘We dedicate this honour to all those brave women who remain in Afghanistan, or who have made the decision to move abroad and continue their studies. Their struggle continues and they are the real heroes of this story.’

The Norgroves were among a slew of Scots recognised in the honours list for making a difference in their field of endeavour.

Labour politician Pamela Duncan Glancy, the first wheelchair user elected to the Scottish parliament, becomes an MBE, while social media influencer Zahrah Mahmood, 34 – known as the Hillwalking Hijabi – was recognised with the same honour.

Pamela Duncan Glancy has been made an MBE 

Glaswegian mother-of-two Ms Mahmood, president of Ramblers Scotland, said: ‘I’m still taking it in. I’m grateful, and I hope I can continue using whatever platform this brings to keep doing the work which matters to me and so many others.’

Historian Alistair Moffat, who founded the Borders Book Festival, also becomes an MBE, for services to literature and culture.

He has written more than 40 books on Scottish history. This year’s Borders Book Festival starts on Thursday.

Charles Pelling, manager of Edinburgh’s Lady Haig Poppy Factory, was honoured with an OBE in recognition of services to veterans.

Meanwhile, Debbie Crosbie – boss of building society Nationwide – paid tribute to her Glaswegian upbringing after receiving a damehood.

She said: ‘Most of my peer group have come from a much higher social demographic and they tended to be educated in either Oxford or Cambridge.

‘I am actually hugely proud. I grew up in Glasgow, I wasn’t different to any of my peer group, so to be given the opportunity to lead… I’ve had a massively rewarding career.’

Ms Crosbie’s fellow Glaswegian, Greggs chief executive Roisin Currie, is also among the business leaders honoured this year with a CBE.

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Honours for Linda Norgrove’s parents after years fighting for rights of women in daughter’s name

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