Former Lord-Lieutenant of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute Patrick Stewart CVO, MBE, is to be awarded the freedom of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute, in recognition of more than three decades of service to the local 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 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute, including agriculture, forestry, company law and the marine environment.
His reputation as an expert advocate for the fishing industry and his roles as secretary to the Clyde Fishermen’s Association and a director of the Scottish Fishermen’s Association saw him awarded the MBE for his services to the industry in 2000.
Mr Stewart’s long history of involvement with the voluntary sector in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute includes 10 years as chair of the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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.
Mr Stewart retired from the Lieutenancy role on his 75th birthday in 2020 after 33 years of service to the Lieutenancy of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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.
Council Leader, Robin Currie, said: “Mr Stewart has given decades of service to the local community, the Lieutenancy of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute and to HM The Queen. The award of Freedom of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ 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.â€