Former Lord-Lieutenant receives Freedom of Argyll and Bute scroll
A Campbeltown resident and former Lord-Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute says he is ‘deeply humbled’ to receive the area’s highest civic honour.
Patrick Stewart CVO, MBE, LLB, WS, FSA Scot was presented with the Freedom of Argyll and Bute scroll at a ceremony in the council chambers at Kilmory last Thursday April 21.
Mr Stewart stood down as Lord-Lieutenant in 2020, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 75, after 33 years’ service to the Lieutenancy.
In addition to his Lieutenancy work, Mr Stewart has a long history of involvement with the voluntary sector in Argyll and Bute.
He served as secretary to the Clyde Fishermen’s Association and was an executive committee member of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.
Mr Stewart also served as an expert advocate and representative for the fishing industry locally, nationally and internationally, a role for which he received an MBE in 2000.
In 1977, Mr Stewart received an invitation to join the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Trust for Argyll and Bute, remaining with the trust and acting as its chairman for 10 years.
The trust provided funding to young people wishing to pursue their academic and general development, and awarded grants to youth and community groups involved in environmental activities.
In 2020, he received a Companion of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the Queen’s New Year Honours, an award given at the personal behest of the Queen to mark dedicated personal service.
In recent years, Mr Stewart was chairperson of the Argyll and Bute World War I Commemoration Steering Group, overseeing commemorative events across the area in each of the four centenary years.
In Kintyre, he was involved in many other voluntary organisations, including the Campbeltown and Kintyre Development Trust and the Kintyre Round Table.
Mr Stewart’s most onerous voluntary duty arose from taking command of the Campbeltown Unit Sea Cadet Corps in 1971, during which time the unit received the trophy for the most efficient unit in the northern part of the UK.
He joined its national governing body in 1983 and received the Captain’s Sea Cadet Medal for 50 years’ service training young people in maritime traditions.
Accepting the accolade, Mr Stewart said: ‘Thank you so much for this very rare honour.
‘I am very deeply humbled by its granting to me. Who would have thought this could happen? Certainly not me.
‘I am eternally grateful for the granting of this honour and feel very privileged indeed.’
Mr Stewart also spoke of his long association with the council and paid tribute to his family, to his Lieutenancy colleagues and to others in the community with whom he has worked over the years, adding: ‘I really don’t deserve this award – you all do.’
‘The Freedom of Argyll and Bute is the highest civic honour that the council can bestow and is very rarely used,’ said Douglas Hendry, executive director at Argyll and Bute Council.
‘Mr Stewart received this accolade, not only for his Lieutenancy duties, but for the dedicated service he has provided to the local community in various roles.
‘Mr Stewart has played a pivotal part in the voluntary sector for a number of years, and has made a huge impact to the lives of many, many individuals, groups and organisations.
‘He is a truly worthy recipient of this honour.’
Mr Stewart is only the fourth person to receive the Freedom of Argyll and Bute honour from the current Argyll and Bute Council – the others being the company of HMS Argyll, former Provost William Petrie and Paralympic tennis gold medallist Gordon Reid.