Honouring a legacy of kindness: The 2026 Val Macaulay Community Advocate of the Year Award

I want to tell you why Valentine enjoyed being with you all. I know that some of you here today will not have met her. But I will try to give you a sense of her values and why they are so important.

When you come into work, what is it that makes it agreeable? We could spend time talking about the problems with the health service and university, but let’s not bother with that.

Because what makes it agreeable is the people you work with and meet on a day-to-day basis. She found the atmosphere here warm and welcoming.

Valentine was never the sort of person to talk about her legacy, although she was passionate about her research and supporting her students, which, in the end is the kind of legacy that really is important. Her interest and belief in outreach stemmed from her core values, which were demonstrated in multiple ways both in and out of work.

As well as her work such as bullying and harassment officer, she helped generations of students, and some of the international students would refer to her as my UK mum.

I alluded to work problems earlier, Valentine experienced periods of unemployment, short term contracts, ad-hoc funding and problems with career progression. She certainly knew about the challenges you face.

And so to today. It is a celebration of your achievements. Well done to you all. Research and academic life is difficult, isn’t it?

No man is an island. So said John Dunne. You, me, we, all need each other. The prize awarded in Valentine’s name is about outreach and community, it is about seeing the bigger picture. The department recognises the critical importance of this dimension, and you are fortunate to work in a place that values it so much. Not everywhere does.

Some departments have a reputation of being a good place to be, and to a large extent this is due to the people there. You might have heard of the expression culture carriers.

These are people who set the tone of the place, and it can continue even when they leave.

Start right now to be a culture carrier and take responsibility for making this a good place to be.

Have an impact, even in the apparently mundane conversation. Just pause for a moment to think about how you can be supportive - how can you frame what you are about to say that lifts it above the ordinary?

Sometimes you might have to say no to a request. Learn how to do that with kindness. Assertion training is learning to say no with respect and kindness. It can be taught and is a good skill to have.

Can you be too kind?  What sort of reputation do you want to have? These are questions for each of us. How can we mange personal drive, ambition and the challenges of research?

This award emphatically shows that no – being too kind is not something you need to worry about!

I’d suggest that her legacy is that of kindness and decency in all respects. You can honour her memory by being the best version of yourself you can be. She would like that 

The outreach award neatly brings together all that she stood for.

And I am so pleased to be here today to present the award to Mr Martin Gillies.