Sheriff is a Lord Iona is first lady Lord Lieutenant
The lawyer and s h e r i f f I o n a McDonald has become the first ever lady Lord- Lieutenant for Ayrshire and Arran.
Iona, who lives in Ayr, has been the distinguished s e n i o r S h e r i f f o f Kilmarnock for the past decade.
She had been appointed Deputy Lord- Lieutenant four years ago and follows John Duncan into the premier role as she celebrates her 63rd birthday this week.
Nigel Martin, the Clerk to the Lieutenancy, said: “Iona is thrilled at her appointment.”
The appointment was made by Her Majesty .
Iona was educated at Cumnock Academy and she graduated from Glasgow University with a Master of Arts in 1976 and Law degree in 1978.
She subsequent l y joined the Ayr firm Mathie- Morton, Black and Buchanan and became a partner in 1982.
For many years she was a familiar face at Ayr Sheriff Court.
In 1994 she was appointed as a temporary Sheriff and received a full appointment in 2000 to the Sheriffdom of North Strathclyde, sitting in Paisley and Kilmarnock Sheriff Courts.
She has acted as a court reporter in family cases and as a safeguarder in children’s hearings. She has been a facilitator for judicial studies training and a mentor to newly appointed Sheriffs. In 2010 she was appointed a member of the Scottish Courts Service Board where she is chair of the Estates Committee. She was also involved in the training of Justices of the Peace and Children’s Panel members.
Iona is also heavily involved in chari t y fundraising, in particular for the British Heart Foundation.
She said: “I am truly honoured to have been appointed as Her Majesty’s Lord- Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran.
“Having been born, raised and having worked in Ayrshire I have a deep seated reverence for the area and it’s people.
“We have much to be proud of and it is my intention to build, not only, on the gifts that the area has given us but to promote the Royal family and the role of the Lieutenancy as much as possible.
“I would also like to record my appreciation to the previous LordLieutenant, John Duncan, for his contribution to the Lieutenancy over the last ten years and wish him a long , happy and healthy retirement.”