Lord Lieutenant receives personal gift from Queen
Campbeltown’s Patrick Stewart MBE, the Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute, has been appointed a Companion of the Royal Victorian Order in Her Majesty The Queen’s New Year Honours List.
Established in 1896 by Queen Victoria, the Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood which is the personal gift of the sovereign, conferred without ministerial advice, recognising distinguished personal service to the Queen or the monarchy.
The award was announced less than two weeks after Mr Stewart, 74, who is due to retire as Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute in the summer, presented his mother, Ailsa Stewart, with a 105th birthday card on behalf of the Queen.
He told the Courier: ‘I feel very proud and privileged to have received this honour from the Queen. I have enjoyed enormously my time as Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute.
‘I also look forward to the last few months in office. I cannot pretend that the role has not been without its difficulties, particularly in travel, but looking back it has all been very worthwhile.’
Chairmanship
He said that the most timeconsuming of the tasks he has carried out as Lord Lieutenant was the chairmanship of the Argyll and Bute World War I Steering Group, which required, from the whole team, months of work researching and recording information about the contribution of the people of Argyll and Bute to the war effort.
It also required the preparation for and mounting of four major events, in each of the centenary years of the war, in Oban, Campbeltown, Dunoon and Islay. The last event was attended by the Princess Royal, the
Ambassador of the USA and other dignitaries.
Mr Stewart said: ‘I also much enjoyed being present at important events in people’s lives including centenaries and 60th and 70th wedding anniversaries, presenting the Queen’s message of congratulations.
‘I had the huge pleasure and privilege to present my own mother with her 105th birthday card from the Queen. As far as I can find out, that is the first time a Lord Lieutenant has been able to do that for one of his or her own parents.’
He continued: ‘I could not have achieved half of what I have done without the guidance and support of my wife, Mary Anne. She has been, and continues to be, a star, despite her own and substantial contributions to charitable work, including chairmanship of the Campbeltown Foodbank.’
The recent royal honour is not Mr Stewart’s first. He was appointed MBE in 2000 in respect of his contribution to the UK fishing industry. Apart from holding other offices, he was secretary of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association for almost 45 years.