News Archive 2021 - 2022
(please see news page for current news)

On 9 November Dawn McKenzie of Brora received her commission as a Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Sutherland. Dawn was Head Teacher of Brora Primary School and latterly cluster head of both Brora and Helmsdale Primary Schools. She recently retired after her 33-year career in education. Dawn is shown being congratulated on her appointment by Lord-Lieutenant Major General Patrick Marriott.

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Dawn joins the lieutenancy team of Lord-Lieutenant Patrick Marriott, Vice Lord-Lieutenant Kim Tulloch and Deputy Lieutenants David Grant, Frances Gunn, Christine Mackay, Sheila Stewart and Catriona Whitfield. Dawn's first duty will be to attend the Brora parade and wreath laying on Remembrance Sunday.

On 3 November Deputy Lieutenant Christine Mackay attended the Citizenship Ceremony for Annika Linnea Andersson Adams from Ardgay. The Ceremony was led by Assistant Registrar Sara Krzyzanowski at the Highland Council offices in Dingwall. Annika and her husband,  Mark, have lived in Ardgay for 15 years. Annika thanked those involved for a really special day "It was far beyond my expectations. Everyone made me feel really welcome, a day to remember."

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The citizenship ceremony involves making an oath, or affirmation, of allegiance and a pledge promising to respect the rights, freedoms and laws of the UK. At the end of the ceremony the new citizen receives their certificate of British citizenship and a welcome pack.

On 6 October the Lord-Lieutenant, Major General Patrick Mariott, attended the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Long Service Awards Ceremony at Clashmore. LSO Michael Humphreys welcomed everyone to the ceremony and an opening address was made by Interim Chief Officer Ross Haggart. ICO Haggart and the Lord-Lieutenant then presented a number of Long Service and Good Conduct medals (following 20 years service). A number of 30 and 40 year service clasps were also awarded at the ceremony. Major General Marriott spoke about three of the many extraordinary qualities that fire fighters possess - courage, professionalism and selflessness.

The Fire Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is awarded by the Monarch, to honour those who have rendered long and meritorious service as members of the Fire Services of the United Kingdom.

A service took place at Loth on Tuesday 11 October to mark the centenary of the dedication of the Loth War Memorial. Originally sited near the Loth school house on the main road, the memorial was moved to it's current site at the Loth burial ground in 2003.

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Veterans from Helmsdale and Brora gathered together with residents from the parish of Loth and neighbouring parishes. The service was led by Rev Lorna Tunstall of Bunillidh and Clyne churches, a history of Loth war memorial was written and read by Esther McDonald, the exhortation was said by Catriona Whitfield DL who also laid flowers on behalf of the Lieutenancy and the parish, Mike Ellis read the names of the fallen and Stewart Bowman spoke the Kohima Epitaph. 

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Thank you to everyone who attended and to those who helped to curate and arrange the service.

Assynt Mountain Rescue Team has been chosen as one of a nationwide network of over 300 inspiring charities and organisations as part of the living legacy from the Queen's Green Canopy 'Tree of Trees'. The 'Tree of Trees' stood tall as a message of hope, regeneration and optimism as part of the Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations (pictured), the trees which made up the 'Tree of Trees' will now go to each of the chosen recipients for planting.  The organisations, which were chosen in collaboration with Lord-Lieutenants, are said to “embody a spirit of selflessness and support with a purpose dedicated to the betterment of their communities, the environment and the nation". 

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Lord-Lieutenant for Sutherland, Major General Patrick Marriott commented “The Assynt Mountain Rescue Team was an obvious and very strong contender to be awarded a “tree of trees”. Serving both Sutherland and Caithness, they represent the very best of the volunteer ethos and have saved so many lives over the years. Given The Queen’s love of mountains too, this just felt entirely appropriate. I have spoken to Tim Hamlet, the current Team Leader, who is understandably thrilled that his team was selected."

A service took place at Lairg on 30 September to mark the centenary of the unveiling of the Lairg War Memorial; the memorial was decorated with a fall of poppies made by friends from many places, near and far. 

Piper Layla Dalton led in those attending, including relatives of those named on the memorial, members of Legion Scotland, members of the Lieutenancy team, representatives of local churches, local volunteers and many from the parish and further afield. The service was led by Sandy Sutherland of Lairg Christian Fellowship, with contributions from Rev Hilary Gardner, Jonathon Brett Young, Irene Grant, Sheila Stewart DL, Angela Sutherland and Rev Ben Fiddian.

The service was live streamed and a video is available through the Lairg Sutherland Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/1431004307203067/videos/655805399227662

A service of remembrance to commemorate the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II took place at Dornoch Cathedral on Sunday 25 September. Rev Carol Anne Porter led the call to worship, prayers and readings were led by Lord-Lieutenant Major General Patrick Marriott, Jamie Stone MP, Rev Mary Stobo, Fr Derick McCulloch and Rev Alister McInnes; the Tribute was given by the Most Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness.

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The service was live streamed and the video is now available through the Sutherland Presbytery Facebook page (the service begins at around 21:40 minutes in) 

https://www.facebook.com/Sutherland.Presbytery/videos/776377463687493

A specially commissioned Highland Stoneware bowl was presented to former Lord-Lieutenant Dr Monica Main to mark her retirement from the Lieutenancy. Dr Main was Lord-Lieutenant for Sutherland for 17 years following her appointment in 2005.

Members of the Lieutenancy team, past and present, gathered for lunch to thank Dr Main for her service and to present her with the commemorative bowl.

A service to mark the centenary of the Rogart Memorial took place on 24 September led by Rev Hilary Gardner of Lairg, with wreaths laid by the Royal British Legion Scotland Rogart branch, RBLS Creich & Kincardine branch, Deputy Lieutenant Sheila Stewart for the Lieutenancy, Rogart Community Council and Rogart Heritage Society (RHS). The names on the memorial were read by Raymond Ross of RHS, and small wooden crosses inscribed with the memorial names were placed by relatives and local children. Dr Alasdair B Mearns piped for the service and Rachel Allan read a history of war memorials.

Photograph by Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera.

The service was livestreamed and the video is now available on the Rogart Heritage Society Facebook page (service starts 3 minutes in) https://www.facebook.com/RogartHeritage/videos/630885958423179

The Lord-Lieutenant, along with all other Lord-Lieutenants from across the UK, attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday 19 September.
“It was a huge privilege to be invited. In just over twenty years I met The Queen eleven times and every time felt special. She had many gifts but, for me, her capacity to “think through others eyes” stands out”. It perhaps gives us a clue about her extraordinary capacity to bring people together, to create common purpose, to heal divisions. Her insight was extraordinary.”
“The massive crowds in London, to an extent, reflected this gift too. For just a few hours people from every walk of life, irrespective of race, colour or creed came together in the most watched spectacle in world history. There was a unique unity in the crowds; differences were put aside, petty bickering and division had no place. It was, I am certain, what The Queen would have wished.”

Sutherland joined Scotland's tribute to the Queen on the evening of Sunday 18 September, prior to the following day's state funeral, when Piper Willie Fraser played “The Immortal Memory” at Dornoch Cathedral Green.

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A video of the playing of the lament is available on the Lieutenancy facebook page at -https://www.facebook.com/sutherlandlieutenancy/videos

The Lord-Lieutenant, along with all the Lord-Lieutenants across Scotland, attended the Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral on Monday 12 September. 
“It was an extraordinary privilege to attend, as the King’s representative in Sutherland, such a remarkably moving and important service - so very perfectly enacted by the Church in Scotland. I was struck by the depth and strength of feeling that her sad death has so clearly generated. The unity on the streets was remarkable - a sense of coming together”.
“The many commentaries, the Thanksgiving Service and the crowds all showed The Queen's genuine love of Scotland; its beauty, its ways and, above all else, it’s people. Perhaps this love of Scotland was derived in part from what she had gained herself from our country: a love of nature - through her retreat at Balmoral; an intuitive hospitality - from its many welcomes;  a deep sense of compassion - from its turbulent history. And there is so much more”.
“It was a day when Scotland gave of her best - as it farewell’d one of her own.”

On Saturday 10 2022 September King Charles III was formally proclaimed at the Accession Council, the Principal Proclamation was then made from St James's Palace.

The following day, the Proclamation was read at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh and then in Inverness. Subsequently, the Proclamation was read at Cathedral Green in Dornoch by Chair of the Sutherland County Committee, Councillor Richard Gale, accompanied by the Lord-Lieutenant Major General Patrick Marriott.

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A video of the Dornoch reading of the Proclamation is available on the Lieutenancy facebook page at -

https://www.facebook.com/sutherlandlieutenancy/videos

Across Sutherland in the days following the death of Her Majesty The Queen, Gardens of Remembrance and Books of Condolence were opened and communities held their own Services of Remembrance.

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Photographs (top to bottom, left to right) - Lochinver Wreath laying (David Grant DL), Bonar Bridge wreath laying (Christine Mackay DL), Dornoch wreath laying (Lord Lieutenant Patrick Marriott), Dornoch wreath laying (Kim Tulloch DL), wreath laid at Brora Garden of Remembrance (Catriona Whitfield DL), Gladys McCulloch signing the Book of Condolence at Bonar Bridge, the Book of Condolence at Helmsdale, Golspie Service of Remembrance (organised by the RBLS Golspie and the Royal Naval Association) and the Melness Service of Remembrance (organised by the Far North Fellowship).