Collins sounds a spirited note on comeback

HE WAS helped slowly to the stage with the aid of a walking stick, but Scottish singer Edwyn Collins had one message on claiming his award: "I'm back."

Two years after suffering a double stroke and having spent six months in hospital being treated for an MRSA infection, the former Orange Juice singer spoke falteringly, but proudly: "I'm loving the attention, it's great, it's good to be back, it's fantastic, it's wonderful; what can I say? Welcome, and cheerio."

Collins, 48, won the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for music. Other nominees included the rock star Amy MacDonald, 20. "Fantastic," said Mike Gilson, the editor of The Scotsman, announcing the prize. "Personal hero of mine. Genius of Scottish pop. The one and only Edwyn Collins."

The awards dinner in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum offered a rich cross-section of Scottish life - from a South Uist salmon-smoking company to the quirky cartoonist David Shrigley, who thanked the organisers for the "weighty award" as he couched the heavy trophy in his hand.

It was the tenth year of the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards, sponsored by Glenfiddich and The Scotsman, and broadcast last night on STV.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, topped the guest list, and the evening was hosted by his old sparring partner, Newsnight's Kirsty Wark. Celebrity presenters included the Gleneagles chef, Andrew Fairlie.

Awards were given out in categories from entrepreneur to the environment. Nominees were chosen by a panel and the winner picked on a public vote, except for the Top Scot prize, which was an open vote.

As Collins received the award, MacDonald was sitting nearby with a group of 20-something friends, plotting her 21st birthday party in Las Vegas and wondering how she would balance Hogmanay dates in Glasgow's George Square and on the BBC.

The singer's debut album, This is the Life, entered the charts at No2, and she travelled to Scotland for the ceremony between gigs in London and Wales, but there was no sign fame had gone to her head. "Orange Juice is probably a bit before my time, but I remember A Girl Like You," she said, referring to Collins's biggest hit. "It's a classic."

The satirical novelist Christopher Brookmyre, who won the writing award, delivered a well-honed acceptance speech.

"A question I'm often asked is: 'Do I think my books would have a wider appeal if they were less steeped in Scottish culture, Scottish slang, Scottish dialect?'

"My answer to that is always: 'I don't care.' I'd rather give you Scotland straight, as I would rather have my whisky straight."

When the Salar Smokehouse won the food prize, the team, which had flown down in force from South Uist, erupted in delight. The smokery that produces its distinctive Salar flaky smoked salmon was also celebrating ten years in business.

"There's nothing like this in South Uist," said Jane Twelves, who runs the family business with her husband, Eric, looking around the monumental setting of the refurbished museum.

"We are really having a blast," she added.

Alex Marshall, MBE, the four-times world indoor bowls singles champion, who won the sport award, "was absolutely delighted for this".

For the first time, there was an environment category, which went to Paul Ramsay. He has campaigned for the return of the European beaver to Scottish woodlands and has about 14 beavers in enclosures on his land in Banff.

"It's a great night for the beaver," he said. "It's a real justification for the work I've been doing over the last ten years."

The Dr Who actor David Tennant, who won the screen award, sent a "short message from the TARDIS", as he is filming for the series in Wales.

Mick Jackson, whose office supplies company, WildHearts in Action, pledges to give all its profits to the poor, won the overall Top Scot award, having earlier taken the entrepreneur prize.

Scottish award for entrepreneur who profits the poor

THE Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards pay homage to Scotland's most inspirational individuals in areas ranging from food, writing, screen, music, sport and art.

Two new categories added this year are the environment and entrepreneur.

Sally Gordon, of William Grant & Sons last night said Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Scotland's busiest tourist attraction, was an appropriate venue.

Ms Gordon, whose great-great-grandfather, William Grant, built the Glenfiddich distillery in just one year, added: "At Glenfiddich, we believe in the philosophy that every year counts, particularly over the long term. These awards are the epitome of this in practice."

Mike Gilson, editor of The Scotsman said the awards showed good news sells as well as bad. "The story with the most views on the Scotsman.com website was not another gloom or disaster story.

"Instead the story of Scotland's triumph in winning the Commonwealth Games for Glasgow drew the largest number, more than 100,000 views," he said.

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, said the award winners exemplified the spirit of the nation.

"This year, the Spirit of Scotland has shone brighter than ever. We saw it on the football field, on the tennis court, on the golf courses, we saw it in the brave response to the attack on Glasgow Airport, and the world of course acknowledged it, by granting us the enormous honour of staging the Commonwealth Games."

Mr Salmond said the Top Scot award could recognise extraordinary Scots like soccer hero James McFadden or business philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, or "ordinary Scots who do extraordinary things".

"The voting was close. As close as a Scottish election. But this time we counted all the votes."

He presented the award to internet businessman Mick Jackson, whose newly-born office supplies company, WildHearts in Action, pledges to give all its profits to the poor.

Mr Jackson had earlier won the entrepreneur award. He told how a climbing accident changed his life. "I was compelled to find a way to harness the wealth of our business community and redistribute it," he said.