Biggar man James Dawnay will deputise for Queen’s Lieutenant

Biggar’s James Dawnay has been appointed a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, representing the Queen at events in Lanarkshire in the coming years.

He will assist Lord Lieutenant Mushtaq Ahmad at civic functions and stand in for him if he is not available.

“I am honoured,” said James. “I hope I can make something of it.”

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James (65) is probably best known locally as chairman of Biggar Museum Trust, but he has had a long career in finance, and a long history of voluntary service.

Born in Glasgow, and educated at Cambridge, he became an investment manager in 1969.

He worked in London for much of his life, and was a main board director of merchant bank SG Warburg, then became a founder director of Mercury Mercury Asset Management, the biggest fund management company in Europe.

He moved back to Scotland in 1992, becoming depute chairman of investment trust company Martin Currie before retiring from full time employment 10 years ago.

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James still works part time, among other things as chairman of the country’s biggest charity fund manager, CCLA.

His service to public life includes eight years as a trustee of the National Galleries in Scotland, and many years serving on the National Trusts for both Scotland and England.

He is also chairman of Penicuik House Preservation Trust, an £8 million renovation project to conserve the ruins of the iconic Enlightenment building.

He has spent the past year spear-heading the drive to raise funds for the new museum in Biggar, a drive which included James and his wife Sarah hosting a dinner for over 100 people at their home.

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