Moray welcomes new Lord Lieutenant as Seymour Munro steps down after five-year stint
A long-serving Lord Lieutenant has handed over his duties to his successor in an official ceremony.
After five years as Moray’s Lord Lieutenant, Major General Seymour Monro CBE LVO has handed over the official badge and sword to his successor, Air Commodore Alistair Monkman CBE.
The Lord Lieutenant is His Majesty the King’s Representative in Moray and is assisted by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, 12 Deputy Lieutenants, the Clerk and the Assistant Clerk.
Together they are known as The Lieutenancy., which aims to help create a good atmosphere and a spirit of co-operation across the county of Moray. It seeks to encourage charities and voluntary groups, to promote businesses and to support social well-being in the area.
It maintains a close relationship with the Armed Forces, Moray Council, the NHS and Police Scotland locally.
Following protocol that Lord Lieutenants cease to serve beyond their 75th birthday, Major General Monro was wished many happy returns by Air Commodore Monkman as he was thanked for his exemplary efforts during his tenure.
Air Commodore Monkman said: “Seymour was thrown in at the deep end as he took up his role at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Immediately he, along with the Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire, set up the Moray Emergency Relief Fund to provide financial relief to people in the Moray Council area suffering severe hardship, illness or poverty as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
“While Seymour has also been heavily involved in other events, such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee followed closely by her sad passing and the coronation duties that arose. Working with organisations across the county and numerous royal visits, it is his tireless work to help disadvantaged families in Moray that will remain his significant legacy.
“I look forward to carrying out the role with as much enthusiasm and support as Seymour has enjoyed. My focus will be on championing all our communities across Moray, providing encouragement, support and recognition for all the hard work that goes on, often behind the scenes.
“I begin my first official public duties with the VE Day 80th anniversary commemorations on Thursday, May 8, which start with the flag raising at Moray Council HQ at 10am.”
Also moving on from her role as Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Nancy Robson OBE handed over the role to Lucy Mackenzie. One of the serving Deputy Lieutenants is appointed as Vice Lord Lieutenant and under most circumstances will stand in for the Lord Lieutenant when they cannot be present.
The appointment as Vice Lord Lieutenant also ends when the Lord Lieutenant who made the appointment leaves their post.
Former Lord-Lieutenant Major General Seymour Monro CBE LVO, said: “I am thrilled that Alistair Monkman and Lucy Mackenzie will succeed Nancy Robson and me.
“They will make a splendid pair to lead the Lieutenancy team.
“I am most grateful to Nancy for all that she has done as Vice Lord Lieutenant. She has been my ‘right arm’. Notably she played a full part in the Moray Emergency Relief Fund during the pandemic, in the Platinum Jubilee, in the Queen’s and now the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, and in the selection of the new Moray flag.
“Nancy also organised all our annual receptions as well as my ‘retirement dinner’, she has been a real star.”
Mrs Mackenzie was born and raised in Moray and educated at Gordonstoun. After time abroad she set up a knitwear company in the Borders before returning to live at Inverugie, near Hopeman in 2002.
She was joint organiser of the Burgie Horse Trials, is involved in voluntary work in Moray and spends much of her time as a gardener. Mrs Mackenzie is married to Roddy, a former officer in the Queen’s Own Highlanders and now involved in the whisky industry. They have three children.
Her mother, Kirsteen Mitcalfe, served as a Deputy Lieutenant and Vice Lord Lieutenant under Lt Col Grenville Johnston.
She added: “It’s a great honour to be stepping into the Vice Lord Lieutenant role and it feels as though the badge is coming home, given my family’s historic links with the role.
“I’ve very much enjoyed my time as Deputy Lieutenant and look forward to working closely with Alistair in this new era of the Lieutenancy team.”
After 13 years as Clerk to the Lieutenancy, former Moray Council Chief Executive, Roddy Burns has also handed over the reins to new Chief Executive, Karen Greaves BEM. The Clerk to the Lord-Lieutenant is the administrative staff member appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant to manage the daily operations of the Lieutenancy.
This role is usually filled by the Chief Executive of council and is responsible for assisting the Lord-Lieutenant with their duties. The Assistant Clerk, Mandy Tough, will continue in that role.
