A new addition has been added to this year’s Highland and Islands Media Awards roll of honour.

Bill Lucas has been announced as the winner of the Barron Trophy, which recognises lifetime achievement in journalism.

Bill began his career at the Hamilton Advertiser, and for the past 44 years has run the Hebridean Press Service, from his base in Stornoway.

Before setting up his own business he also worked for the Stornoway Gazette and The Scotsman.

The award is in recognition of his efforts to put the Western Isles on the map, by serving all the national and regional newspapers, weeklies, trade and technical journals, and radio and television stations, and also of his service to the community as a town and county councillor and office-bearer at a number of community organisations.

A lifelong member of the SNP, he was also the campaign manager when the late Donald Stewart won the seat back from Labour in 1970 and held it until he retired 17 years later.

Bill was nominated by Lewis journalist Taylor Edgar.

He said: “Without Bill’s kind guidance and advice over the years, I – and many other young journalists cutting their teeth in Stornoway – would have been all the poorer as members of the media.”

Bill will be presented with a rosebowl, donated by Evan Barron, proprietor of the Inverness Courier in 1950, at the Highland and Islands Press Ball on Friday.