Former Lord-Lieutenant honoured with freedom of Argyll and Bute
‘The award of Freedom of Argyll and Bute is well deserved’ Councillor Robin Currie
A former Lord-Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute is to be awarded the freedom of Argyll and Bute, writes Colin Cameron.
Patrick Stewart CVO MBE receives the honour in recognition of more than three decades of service to the community.
In his role as a solicitor in the Campbeltown family firm of Stewart, Balfour and Sutherland, Mr Stewart developed particular expertise in a number of legal issues significant to Argyll and Bute including agriculture, forestry, company law and the marine environment.
While practising full-time as a solicitor he was also secretary to the Clyde Fishermen’s Association and served terms as a director of the Scottish Fishermen’s Organisation Ltd and a member of the executive committee of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.
He represented the fishing industry at local, national and international levels and was appointed MBE in 2000 for services to the fishing industry.
Mr Stewart’s long history of involvement with the voluntary sector in Argyll and Bute includes 10 years as chair of the Argyll and Bute Trust, providing funding support for young people pursuing academic and general development.
He has also worked closely with many voluntary organisations in Kintyre, including the Campbeltown and Kintyre Development Trust and the Kintyre Round Table.
Prior to joining the Royal Naval Reserve in 1968, he commanded the Campbeltown unit Sea Cadet Corps for many years and served on the governing body of the Sea Cadets.
He is now a life vice president of the Marine Society and Sea Cadets.
He was first invited to join the
Argyll and Bute lieutenancy in 1987 and served as a Depute Lieutenant until 2002 when he was invited to become the Vice Lieutenant.
He was appointed by Her Majesty The Queen as LordLieutenant for Argyll and Bute in 2011, succeeding Kenneth MacKinnon in the role.
Mr Stewart retired from the lieutenancy role on his 75th birthday in 2020 after 33 years of service to the lieutenancy of Argyll and Bute.
Following his retirement, he was appointed a Companion of the Royal Victorian Order, an award made at the personal behest of the Queen to mark dedicated personal service.
Argyll and Bute Council leader Councillor Robin Currie said: ‘Mr Stewart has given decades of service to the local community, the lieutenancy of Argyll and Bute and to HM The Queen.
‘The award of Freedom of Argyll and Bute is well deserved and will be warmly welcomed by all those who have worked with him and been supported by him.
‘That dedication has already been recognised with a personal award from the Queen and seen him play a key role in major cultural and economic issues, locally, nationally and internationally.
‘Despite his final year as Lord-Lieutenant being marked by the pandemic, Mr Stewart brought the same level of hard work, dedication and sense of duty throughout those difficult times to his role in serving our community.’