Central Ayrshire's former MP Brian Donohoe will be receiving a Knighthood.

Soon-to-be Sir Brian Donohoe, who served as a Labour MP for 23 years, is to receive the Knights Bachelor in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his parliamentary and political work.

And the former MP, who represented Prestwick and Troon from 2005 until 2015, said it felt amazing and surreal to be recieving the honour.

He said: "I'm deeply honoured obviously, it's absolutely amazing. Instead of being Mr Donohoe I'm now Sir, people have called me all sorts but never that before.

"It's nice to see after being involved in public service for the length of time that I have. I'm here to help as I've always said. 

"It's something I've known for sometime but you can't reveal it, I haven't told my sons yet, but it's quite remarkable. As someone having come from being a shipyard worker to become a Knight of the Realm, it's just surreal." 

Former Loudoun Montgomery and Irvine Royal Academy pupil Brian previously received the Queens Badge after joining the Boys Brigade in 1959.

In 1965 he joined Ailsa Shipbuilding in Troon as an apprentice fitter/turner ending his apprenticeship as a Draughtsman. He then worked as an Engineering Draughtsman at Hunterston Nuclear Power Station and ICI Organics Division, Stevenston. 

He served in many capacities within the Trade Union movement and was Treasurer of Cunninghame South Labour Party 1983-1991, became a full time District Officer in the National and Local Government Association from 1981 till 1992 when he was elected to the House of Commons and continued as the MP for Central Ayrshire until 2015.

In Parliament he focused his energies on improving transport, and was a long-serving member of the Transport Select Committee, from 1993 until 2005.

He went on to serve as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Lord Adonis as Minister of State of Transport, then Secretary of State until the General Election in 2010. From 2005 to 2010 he served as a Member of the Administration Select Committee.

In 2009 he took on the role of Chair of Trustees for the House of Commons MPs’ Pension Scheme a role in which he continues to serve. He was a Fellow of the Industry and Parliament Trust 1995-2001, and served as Director 2012-2015.

He was a Trustee of the horticulture charity Thrive 2006-2010 becoming Chairman 2011-2012 and Patron since 2012.

Brian was a Director of Rangers First in 2016 and Director then Chair of Westminster Green until 2015 re-joining the Board in 2019.

He served as a Special Constable in the British Transport Police 2004-2014, and Deacon of the Weavers in Irvine Incorporated Trades since 2016.

He was a Director of a construction company specialising in building Centres for Autism 2005-2007.