‘Granny’s working for the Queen’
Jane MacLeod named new Lord Lieutenant
‘A hard act to follow’ was how Argyll and Bute's first female Lord Lieutenant described her predecessor as she prepared for her new role.
Lochgilphead solicitor Mrs Jane MacLeod has been appointed by Her Majesty the Queen to succeed Patrick Stewart CVO MBE WS, who retires on July 25 after 33 years of service to the Lieutenancy of Argyll and Bute and nine years as the Queen’s official representative to the area.
The Lord Lieutenant’s role involves acting as the official representative of Her Majesty in Argyll and Bute; assisting in the arrangements for royal visits to the area; identifying and nominating people for national honours and awards schemes and other ceremonial duties.
Mr Stewart, also a solicitor, was appointed Depute Lieutenant in 1987, then to the role of Vice Lieutenant in 2002. He became Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute in 2011.
During that time he has been involved in numerous royal visits to the area and special occasions in Argyll and Bute, including the Queen’s golden and diamond jubilees in 2002 and 2012 respectively and her 90th birthday celebrations in 2016.
There have been 100th and 105th birthdays and diamond and platinum wedding anniversaries, with presentations on behalf of the Queen. These included the presentation of a 105th birthday card to his mother, Mrs Ailsa Stewart who, like her son, lives in Campbeltown.
A key achievement Mr Stewart’s tenure was the co-ordination of the region’s First World War centenary commemorations, with international focus on the 2018 commemorations in Islay in particular.
He was appointed a Companion of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2020 Queen’s New Year Honours List.
Mrs MacLeod said she was ‘honoured and privileged’ to serve as Lord Lieutenant.
She was first appointed to the lieutenancy in 2006 as a Depute Lieutenant before becoming Vice Lieutenant in 2017.
She has been involved in all aspects of lieutenancy business, including playing a key role in royal visits, participating in the honours system and supporting Argyll and Bute’s 12 depute lieutenants.
A mother of four daughters and grandmother of six, Mrs MacLeod said her family was delighted at her appointment, with a four-year-old grandchild pleased that ‘granny’s working for the Queen’.
She added: ‘I have very much enjoyed working with Patrick and the lieutenancy over the years. He has done such a brilliant job and will be a very hard act to follow.
‘I only hope I can carry on his good work and I am very much looking forward to embarking on this new challenge.’
As the first woman to be appointed to the role in Argyll and Bute, she said: ‘There are quite a few female Lord
Lieutenants around the country, but this is a first for Argyll and Bute.
‘We now have not only a female Lord Lieutenant, but a lady serving as chief executive of the council and another as council leader.
‘I would like to think this triumverate could be seen as role models for young girls, inspiring them to achieve their ambitions.’
Looking ahead to her role in a post-coronavirus world, Mrs MacLeod said: ‘People who have worked for communities during the pandemic need to be recognised.’
She also plans to introduce new ways of working to the lieutenancy, including social media and remote communications technology.
In the days before stepping down as Lord Lieutenant, Mr Stewart said: ‘Jane has been a tremendous support to the lieutenancy and to me over the past several years.
‘She is passionate about seeing Argyll and Bute and its people thrive and has played an active part in community life over the years. She will make a first-class Lord Lieutenant and I wish her all the very best in this new role.
‘I know she will bring to it her characteristic dedication and commitment.
‘The lieutenancy is in very safe hands indeed.
‘Along with my sincere thanks for their kindness over the years, I leave them with my very warmest wishes for the future.’
‘She will make a firstclass Lord Lieutenant and I wish her all the very best in this new role. I know she will bring to it her characteristic determination and commitment.’