Renfrewshire Lieutenancy Profiles

Colonel Peter McCarthy, Lord-Lieutenant of Renfrewshire 

HM The Queen appointed Colonel Peter McCarthy as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Renfrewshire in March 2019 on the retiral of Mr Guy Clark CVO JP.

Colonel McCarthy was born in 1953 and was educated at John Fisher School, Purley and Welbeck College. He was commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in 1973, with whom he had a 30 year career in engineering, including service in Germany and Northern Ireland.

Upon leaving the Army in 2004 he became an Operations Director with the British Red Cross in Glasgow, responsible for services in South West Scotland. Later he moved into a role, supporting Red Cross operations in the UK and abroad until his retirement in 2015.

He has served on the Master Court of the Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow, and as a trustee of the Trades House of Glasgow. He is a Vice President of the REME Association Branch in Scotland, as well as being Patron of a local Army Cadet detachment, along with a number of other honorary positions.

He married Jean in 1982 who is from Greenock and they have 3 sons.

As Lord-Lieutenant, he is responsible for arrangements for Royal Visits to the area, and represents Her Majesty when called to do so. He is closely associated with the West Lowland Army Cadet Force and the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association. Colonel McCarthy also takes an interest in all aspects of life in his area, including education, commerce, industry, the Armed Forces and voluntary organisations.

The Lieutenancy established in 1794 comprises a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and up to twenty-six Deputy Lieutenants who live in various parts of the old county of Renfrewshire.

Deputy Lieutenants

Deputy Lieutenants are commissioned by the Lord-Lieutenant, subject to confirmation by the First Minister that the Queen does not disapprove the appointment.  A Vice Lord-Lieutenant is commissioned by the Lord-Lieutenant from among their number.  The current holder of this office is Mr Hugh Currie of Greenock.

The function of Deputy Lieutenants is to assist in the performance of any public duty performed by the Lord-Lieutenant.  They also provide local knowledge for the Lord-Lieutenant in a part of the community they know well.

The normal retirement age for Deputy Lieutenants is 75. When Deputy Lieutenants are asked to stand in for the Lord-Lieutenant, they are representing HM The Queen.

In addition to the Vice Lord-Lieutenant there are the following Deputy Lieutenants:

Baroness Goldie of  Bishopton

Dr Peter Semple, Inverkip

Mr David MacLellan, Kilbarchan

Mr Alastair MacMillan, Port Glasgow

Mr Alan Dunnet, Greenock

Mr David Girdwood, Bridge of Weir

Brigadier Alistair Macmillan, Johnstone

Mr Jonathan Muirhead OBE, Pollokshields

Prof Alexander Stoddart, Paisley

Mrs Sara Bishop, Kilbarchan

Mrs Beverley Craig, Newton Mearns

Mr Hugh Currie, Greenock

Rev Alan Sorensen, Greenock

Dr Iain Findlay, Bridge of Weir

Mr Kenneth Ross OBE, Clarkston

Rev Alan Birss, Paisley

Mrs Lynne Jamieson, Mearnskirk

Mr Mark Crichton Maitland, Houston

Mrs Donna McMillan, Paisley

Prof Gordon Masterton OBE, Bridge of Weir

Miss Sandra MacDougall, Greenock

You can contact the Lord-Lieutenant, Vice Lord-Lieutenant and any of the Deputies using our contact details

Clerk to the Lieutenancy

The Clerk to the Lieutenancy of Renfrewshire is Mrs Linda Hutchison.

The Lieutenancy Office gives administrative support to the Lord-Lieutenant and offers guidance and advice on the organisation of and protocol for Royal Visits, the honours nomination procedures, Royal Garden Parties, anniversary messages from the Queen, ceremonial and special events.

Please contact:

Mrs Linda Hutchison
East Renfrewshire Council HQ
Eastwood Park
Rouken Glen Road
Giffnock
East Renfrewshire
G46 6UG

Tel Number: 0141 577 8388 / 3143
e-mail: linda.hutchison@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk