Sutherland lieutenancy 'thrilled' to welcome Scourie native as new deputy
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The Sutherland Lieutenancy team appointed its newest deputy on Monday, March 27, as Lord-Lieutenant Major General Patrick Marriott welcomed Mr Neil Macdonald to the role.
On the appointment, Lord-Lieutenant Marriott said: “I am thrilled that Neil Macdonald has joined the Sutherland Lieutenancy team. He brings a fantastic understanding of local context and is understandably well respected and liked.”
Mr MacDonald brings a wealth of experience as the latest Deputy Lieutenant to join the team and his appointment was met with a great deal of appreciation.
A Scourie native, Mr Macdonald works for Reay Estates and is well known throughout the area of north-west Sutherland. He and his wife, Aileen, currently live in Scourie.
A prominent member of the community, he is currently serving on the Scourie community council, the Scourie Community Development Company and the Scourie Gala committee. In addition, Mr Macdonald has also previously served on the Scourie Hall committee, with the local fire brigade and as a coastguard. He is also a former chairman of Scourie Football Club.
Born at Aultnasuileag, Reay Forest in 1968, he follows in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather who have also worked for the Reay Estate.
He was educated in Scourie Primary School and then boarded at Golspie High School on the east coast of Sutherland.
After leaving school he completed an apprenticeship as car mechanic working for Golspie Motors and worked for fifteen years in various mechanic roles between Scourie, Ullapool and Kinlochbervie.
In 2004, he started working for the Reay Estate as a mechanic and is now the fleet and facilities manager.
Mr Macdonald also runs a family croft with around a hundred sheep.
He was married in 1994 to Aileen MacInnes (current deputy headteacher of the North West Sutherland Schools group). Together, they have three sons.
Neil joins the existing lieutenancy team of Lord-Lieutenant Patrick Marriott, Vice Lord-Lieutenant Kim Tulloch and Deputy Lieutenants David Grant, Frances Gunn, Christine Mackay, Dawn McKenzie, Sheila Stewart and Catriona Whitfield.
