Moray’s new Lord-Lieutenant is former RAF Lossiemouth station commander Alistair Monkman
A former station commander at RAF Lossiemouth has been appointed as the new Lord-Lieutenant of Moray.
Alistair Monkman is set take over in May following the retirement of Seymour Monro after five years in the role, which involves arranging royal visits, presenting awards on behalf of the monarch and supporting local communities.
The 61-year-old, who holds the military rank of Air Commodore, lives in Garmouth along with his wife Sandy, who recently retired as a consultant radiologist at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
Speaking about his appointment, he said: “It is a huge honour to be asked to represent Moray and I must start by thanking Seymour, on behalf of the people of Moray, for his excellent and unrelenting service over the last five years and beyond.
“I’m very much looking forward to becoming Lord Lieutenant for Moray when Seymour retires in May and I’m absolutely delighted to be offered the opportunity to serve and support our communities across the county.”
Having gained his private pilots' licence at the age of 17, he joined the RAF as a Tornado pilot in 1985. During 27 years of service, he flew more than 500 hours of combat operations over Iraq, Serbia and Afghanistan. In addition, he was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal by the RAF and with the Legion of Merit by the US.
Moving to Moray in 2003, he was in charge of 617 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth before going on to take command of the whole air base. He was made a CBE in the 2010 New Year's Honours list.
As well as chairing the Moray Emergency Relief Fund, he is also an Assessor for the Moray Community Foundation. His interests include cycling and endurance hill walking and he has undertaken long distance walks every year since 2012.
His passion, however, is the management of wild deer and he is both a trustee director of the British Deer Society and chairs that organisation’s Scottish council.
Congratulating his successor, Major General Seymour Monro said: “I am thrilled that His Majesty has appointed Alistair Monkman to be the next Lord-Lieutenant.
“I first knew him as the station commander at Lossie, worked with him during the pandemic on the Moray Emergency Relief Fund and handed over the HAC 2622 (Highland) Squadron appointment to him.
“He has been a deputy lieutenant for five years and I know he will make an excellent Lord-Lieutenant for Moray.”
