Home   News   Article

Highland-born forensic anthropologist Professor Dame Sue Black appointed to House of Lords


By Val Sweeney

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!
Professor Dame Sue Black led an examination of remains at Wardlaw Mausoleum, Kirkhill.
Professor Dame Sue Black led an examination of remains at Wardlaw Mausoleum, Kirkhill.

Internationally-renowned forensic anthropologist Professor Dame Sue Black has been made a non-party-political peer by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

The former Inverness Royal Academy pupil, who will sit on the crossbenches, is recognised for her outstanding contributions as a forensic anthropologist, anatomist and academic.

Her expertise has been crucial to a number of high-profile criminal cases, including the conviction of Scotland’s largest paedophile ring in 2009, and in 1999 she headed the British forensic team’s exhumation of mass graves in Kosovo.

In 2003, she undertook two tours to Iraq and in 2005 she participated in the UK's contribution to the Thai tsunami victim identification operation as part of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami international response.

She was awarded the OBE in 2001 for her work in Kosovo and was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2016 for services to forensic anthropology.

Professor Black will take up her appointment to the House of Lords alongside her current role as Lancaster University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engagement.

"I know this will be a challenging position and I view it as national service," she said.

"I have been incredibly fortunate throughout my career and if those experiences can be brought to bear in government decision-making, then I can only promise to do my best which I hope will be enough."

Four years ago, Professor Black led a team of scientists who carried out a forensic examination of headless remains in a casket at Wardlaw Mausoleum in Kirkhill.

The casket was thought to have held the executed Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, nicknamed The Old Fox but a forensic examination revealed the remains were of a woman.

Professor Black is also a bestselling author having written a non-fiction book, All That Remains, and Written in Bone.

Related story: Forensic scientist was called in to help identify victims of serial killer Dennis Nilsen


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More