Former Cumbernauld councillor gets gong

Gerry McElroy (65), who served on the district council then Strathclyde and North Lanarkshire councils, can add those three crucial letters to his name after officially learning of this accolade at the weekend. The award is for service to local government and the community of Lanarkshire.

The Lomond Court resident’s roles have included his chairmanship of Campsies Centres Cumbernauld Ltd, the private company which oversees Cumbernauld town Centre. He has also been an active member of visiting committees to Barlinnie and Addiewell prisons. Mr McElroy is now the Deputy Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire - and helps at a wide range of functions.

Meanwhile, North Lanarkshire Provost Jim Robertson paid tribute to the former Justice of the Peace, after saying he was “totally committed to the town.”

He added: “Under Gerry’s chairmanship, Campsies Centre Cumbernauld Ltd helped breathe new life into the town centre with regeneration projects from the new footbridge across Central Way to the town centre signage and lighting project.

“And, of course, the Arria statue, built by CCCL, has become an internationally-known landmark as well as the new face of Cumbernauld,” he added.

The dad-of-five, who is grandfather to two year old Ruaridh, said that his first reaction was that of surprise – but that the award has been one of two personal highlights in 2012.

Mr McElroy added: “Along with my other appointment as deputy lieutenant, this has been a nice way for me to celebrate what was already a great jubilee year.”