Ferry founder receives his OBE

Pentland Ferries’ managing director, Andrew Banks, was awarded with his OBE at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London recently.

Mr Banks, received the honour for services to transport, and to the community of Orkney, in the Queen’s 2014 New Year Honours List.

Together with his wife Susan, Mr Banks established Pentland Ferries in 2001, operating the ro-ro ferry service between St Margaret’s Hope and Gills Bay in Caithness.

Mr Banks said: “It was quite a surprise, when I was first told about the OBE. We had a good day at the Palace. It was an honour to be there and receive the award.”