THE dedication to Tweeddale of its outgoing Lord Lieutenant Sir Hew Strachan was marked at an informal reception in Peebles Burgh Hall.

The event, organised by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) and led by its convener Watson McAteer, “recognised and celebrated” Sir Hew’s ‘huge contribution” to Tweeddale in the 10 years since his appointment.

Mr McAteer detailed Sir Hew’s extensive work on the subject of war, on which he is a recognised expert, before accepting the position of Lord Lieutenant and taking over from Sir David Younger.

This work includes being Professor of Modern History at Glasgow University from 1992 to 2000 and working on the Chief of the Defence Staff’s strategic advisory panel.

Mr McAteer said: “Most importantly for us he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Tweeddale in 2006, when his journey supporting our local communities began in earnest.

“Sir Hew was knighted in 2013 for services to the Ministry of Defence and in May the next year became Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale.

“In customary style he threw himself into the role carrying out a wide variety of duties, working closely with voluntary services, charities and local businesses.

“He has welcomed many Royal visitors including the Princess Royal to Dawyck Botanic Gardens and to Holland and Sherry.

“One civic duty that brings Sir Hew, myself and SBC together on a regular basis is the British Citizenship ceremonies, and I know he enjoys these events.”

In this year’s Beltane Festival Sir Hew was appointed Warden of Neidpath. Mr McAteer cited this as another example of “absolute commitment and support to Tweeddale”.

Mr McAteer said: “You are passing the baton in great shape to our new Lord Lieutenant, Catherine Maxwell Stuart, and we congratulate and thank you on a job well done.”

Sir Hew said: “I have learned so much about this county in the past 10 years.

“I have come to realise the strength of Peeblesshire and the things which happen here.”

Becoming a Lord Lieutenant in Scotland is a three-stage process with the selected person’s name going to the First Minister, the Prime Minister and the King.

Sir David told Sir Hew in 2014 that he could say no at the Prime Ministerial stage but certainly not to the Queen.

Sir Hew said: “When I took over an enormous amount of stuff arrived including a safe, a large tin trunk and beautiful files.

“When I handed it to Catherine I said, ‘I have never opened the safe and I don’t have a key for the tin trunk, and my secretary had a clear out of the files’.

“It has been a great privilege, it has been fun and a great argument Pamela and I can have about how we are both doing too much!”

Mrs Maxwell Stuart said: “I was born and brought up in this community and it is fantastic to follow after Sir Hew.”

Mrs Maxwell Stuart’s first official engagement in Peebles will be on Remembrance Sunday.