Tributes have been paid to Elizabeth Patricia Gilroy (known to many as Patsy) who died this week.
Patsy was appointed as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in November 2018, succeeding Sir Malcolm Ross GCVO OBE.
Patsy was first elected to Dumfries and Galloway Council in 1999 and served as its first female Convener from 2007 until 2012 and as a Councillor until October 2018.
Patsy’s commitment and dedication to The Queen and to the people of the Stewartry was evident in the way that she fulfilled her role as a public servant. Her recognition and support for the work of so many voluntary and public sector organisations was hugely important and made a significant positive contribution to many people’s lives.
Sandy McCulloch, Vice Lord-Lieutenant said: “What a tragedy for someone so young with a great future ahead of her as Lord Lieutenant to have been taken so untimely. Patsy approached the job with great enthusiasm and was the driving force behind the Kirkcudbright Summer Festivities Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service as well as so many other projects and initiatives across the Stewartry. Patsy was delighted to have been given the opportunity to represent Her Majesty The Queen and saw it as an absolute honour and privilege to be able to do so. Patsy will be a hard act to follow.”
Council Leader Elaine Murray said: “Patsy was a tremendous public servant, serving first as a Councillor then as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant.”
Depute Leader Rob Davidson said: “I have fond memories of Patsy as a friend, a fellow Councillor, and as the first female Convenor of our Council.”
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell described his sadness at Patsy Gilroy’s passing at the weekend
He said: “Patsy was a formidable woman who fearlessly stood up for what she believed, for her local communities and Dumfries and Galloway.
“She was an outstanding council convener, a loyal friend and great fun. It was a pleasure to know her and an honour to work with her. May she rest in peace.”
Patsy Gilroy was a close friend of Dumfries and Galloway MP and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, his wife Ann and their family.
In a tribute this week, Mr Jack said: “We will miss Patsy greatly as will her many friends across the region. I’ve known her most of my life and she was always a very warm character and enormous fun to be with.
“In public life, she was a diligent and popular Dumfries and Galloway councillor, convener for a number of years and later became a very able Lord Lieutenant for The Stewartry, who carried out her duties with great thought and attention to detail.”
