Ross and Cromarty Lord Lieutenant deputies receive commissions as team representing King in county gathers
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THE woman who represents King Charles in Ross-shire had the opportunity to get together with her team as two new deputies received their commissions.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty is Joanie Whiteford who lives in Easter Ross.
The role is unpaid and, like the monarch, is essentially non-political. While the office is of military origin and dates back to the time of Henry VIII, that role has largely disappeared though links are maintained by association with Volunteer Reserve Forces.
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The Lord-Lieutenant seeks to promote a good atmosphere and a spirit of co-operation by encouragement given to voluntary service and to benevolent organisations, and by taking an active interest in the business, industrial and social life of the county and the voluntary activity that goes on in it.
Functions include arranging all visits of members of the Royal family to the Ross and Cromarty area.
The latest deputies to receive their commissions are Duncan Ferguson from Achmore and Peter Harrison from Ullapool.
Mrs Whiteford also gave certificates to Iain Swayne, clerk to the lieutenancy, and to Adeline Allan, assistant clerk to the lieutenancy.
The team now is Joanie Whiteford, lord-lieutenant; Andy Townsend, vice-lord-lieutenant; deputies Dr Moira Mckenna, Dr Robbie Bain, Angus Beaton, Norma Young, Annie Stewart, Joanna Macpherson, Duncan Ferguson and Peter Harrison.
Scottish lord-lieutenants are appointed by The King, on the advice of the First Minister for each area of Scotland, apart from the cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, where the Lord Provosts are ex-officio lord lieutenants.
Deputy lieutenants are appointed by each lord lieutenant at their discretion. Deputy lieutenants support the lord lieutenant in general, acting as their “eyes and ears” across the lieutenancy and standing in on occasion.
One of the deputies is appointed as the vice lord-lieutenant. Collectively they are referred to as the lieutenancy.
The area covered by the lieutenancy stretches from Skye in the west to beyond Ullapool in the north and to Cromarty and Tain in the east.
Mrs Whiteford’s role also involves encouraging and assessing nominations for honours, both personal and for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service
She also bears a responsibility for ensuring that The King’s private office is kept informed about local issues relating to their area, particularly when a Royal visit is being planned.
Honours lists are published twice a year, at New Year and on the King’s birthday.
Anyone can receive an award if they reach the required standard of merit or service, and honours lists contain a wide variety of people from different backgrounds, communities and organisations.
Anyone can nominate someone for an award.
The honours system is administered by the government and you can obtain more information by visiting the The Honours system on the gov.scot site.
Anyone with queries about the honours system, or how to nominate someone, can contact the clerk to the lieutenancy.
100-year birthday cards are sent out automatically though 60th wedding anniversary cards must be applied for. The lieutenancy office can do this, if you email to lieutenancyr&c@highland.gov.uk
The information required is: Full names, including maiden name; current address; where and when married
If the couple were married in England, the lieutenancy also needs a copy of the marriage certificate.
Alternatively you can apply yourself online at www.royal.uk/anniversary-messages-0. Birthday Pre-Application (royal.uk)
If anyone would like to request a member of the lieutenancy team to present the 100th birthday card or the 60th wedding anniversary card, then please contact the lieutenancy office on lieutenancyr&c@highland.gov.uk
