A FORMER pupil of Cumnock Academy has been appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran.

Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to appoint Sheriff Iona Sara McDonald, MA, LLB, DL, to succeed Mr John Duncan, CVO, QPM, who retired on October 15.

Ms McDonald is also a Senior Sheriff in the Sheriffdom of North Strathclyde at Kilmarnock On her appointment Sheriff Mc Donald, pictured left, said: “I am truly honoured to have been appointed as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran.

“Having been born, raised and having worked in Ayrshire I have a deep seated reverence for the area and it’s people.

“We have much to be proud of and it is my intention to build, not only, on the gifts that the area has given us but to promote the Royal family and the role of the lieutenancy as much as possible.

“I would also like to record my appreciation to the previous Lord- Lieutenant, John Duncan, for his contribution to the Lieutenancy over the last ten years and wish him a long ,happy and healthy retirement.”

After attending Cumnock Academy, Ms McDonald graduated from Glasgow University with a Master of Arts in 1976 and Law degree in 1978.

She subsequently joined the Ayr firm Mathie-Morton, Black and Buchanan and became a partner in 1982.

Then, 12 years later, she was appointed as a temporary sheriff in 1994 and received a full appointment in 2000 to the Sheriffdom of North Strathclyde, sitting in Paisley and Kilmarnock Sheriff courts. Since 2007 she has been Senior Sheriff at Kilmarnock.

During her distinguished career Sheriff McDonald has held a number of other positions.

This includes acting as a court reporter in family cases, a safe-guarder in children’s hearings, facilitator for judicial studies training and a mentor to newly appointed sheriffs.

In 2010 she was appointed a member of the Scottish Courts Service Board where she is chair of the Estates Committee.

Ms McDonald was also involved in the training of Justices of the Peace and Children’s Panel members and is involved in charity fundraising, especially for the British Heart Foundation.