Captain Stirling, who is battling lung cancer in Raigmore Hospital, has been appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in recognition of his public services to Her Majesty, the local communities in his lieutenancy and elsewhere in Scotland over many years. He received the honour from Vice Lieutenant, Commander Bill Peppe, at a brief ceremony by his hospital bed on Tuesday afternoon. The Queen sent her regrets that she could not attend pesonally to confer the knighthood.

Membership of the Royal Victorian Order is in the personal gift of the Queen herself, and is an honour granted independently of the Prime Minister or Parliament. Sir Roderick (74), who lives at Fearnach, Urray, has been Lord Lieutenant since 1988, and has spent many years contributing in numerous ways to the wellbeing of the community, both locally and throughout the Highlands and beyond.

Educated at Harrow and commissioned in the Scots Guards during National Service, Sir Roderick subsequently served with the local TA battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders and Queen’s Own Highlanders for 16 years, being awarded the Territorial Decoration.

He served on Ross and Cromarty County Council from 1970-74, and on Ross and Cromarty District Council from 1986 until it was dissolved 10 years later.

In addition he served for 25 years on the Red Deer Commission, latterly as vice-chairman, on Ross and Sutherland Scout Council from 1990, as president of Ross and Cromarty Council for Voluntary Services from 1990 to 1995, and several other bodies, including the Scottish Accident Prevention Council, of which he was vice-president. Sir Roderick is also a Justice of the Peace.

June Forsyth, from the Office of the Clerk to the Lord Lieutenant in Dingwall, said, “He has done a tremendous amount for a great many local organisations, much of it without people realising. He is a marvellous person to work for and we are all delighted that he has been recognised.”

Sir Roderick’s youngest daughter Fiona said, “He’s been quite poorly, but this has very much cheered him up. It’s a very great honour.”

And his wife Penny remarked, “Unfortunately he’s not very well, but he’s still thinking positively. This is just unbelievable. The news came in a letter and he was totally lost for words. He was delighted, because he feels it’s an honour not just for himself, but for everybody and for Ross-shire.

“He’s due to retire from the lieutenancy in June, and he wants very much to finish the course.”

The new Lady Stirling, a mother of four daughters, laughed, “It’s odd that when the girls were young, they used to call me Lady Penny!”

Highland Council Ross and Cromarty area convener Carolyn Wilson, who visited him in hospital to convey her own and her colleagues’ congratulations, commented, “Sir Roderick’s honour is richly deserved.

“He has carried out his duties as Lord Lieutenant for many years with great charm, discretion and dignity and he’s been a great ambassador for Ross and Cromarty, for which he cares passionately.

“He has a tremendous capacity for making people to whom he has presented honours or certificates feel really important.

“He’s a lovely man, a true gentleman of the old school.”

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