Appointment of Deputy Lieutenants
The Lord Lieutenant is delighted to announce that Her Majesty The Queen has appointed Mrs Carolyn Blyth, Mr Nigel Martin and Mr Matt Smith to be Deputy Lieutenants for Ayrshire and Arran.
Carolyn Blyth, pictured on the left, was born in Glasgow and educated at Craigholme School, Glasgow and St Leonards School, St Andrews.
She graduated MA from Glasgow University.
From 1980 to 1996, she owned and ran a gift and coffee shop in Kilmaurs. In 1997-98 she was the Regional Hospital Service Manager for the WRVS.
She is a long term resident in the Dunlop area where she is deeply involved in local community life.
She has been Chair of Dunlop and Lugton Community Council, Chair of Dunlop Regeneration Group and is currently a Director of Dunlop and Lugton Park Association, Chair of Dunlop Friends of the Ayrshire Hospice and an Elder of Dunlop Kirk.
Carolyn and her husband Mike have two sons and three grandchildren and live near Dunlop. Among her wide-ranging interests are skiing, travel and walking.
Nigel Martin, pictured on the left, was born in Prestwick and educated at Marr College, Troon. After study at Glasgow University he graduated LLB in 1977.
Nigel has, since 1980, been a solicitor in private practice and since 1992 on his own account in Ayr.
He is a long term Clerk to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran having, since his appointment in 1988, served 3 Lord-Lieutenants.
Throughout his life he has devoted significant time, expertise and enthusiasm to charitable fundraising for a wide variety of causes.
He has taken on a number of roles: Director and Company Secretary of ALERT; founder Director of Achievers International; founder of Legends Golf Challenge; organiser of Ayr Fireworks Display at Ayr Racecourse; Director, Vice-Chairman and Chairman of Ayrshire Hospice; President Glasgow Ayrshire Society and a winner of the Law Society of Scotland Charity of Law Award.
In 2007 his contribution was recognised with the award of MBE.
Married to Sandy, he has two daughters, Debbie and Nicola, and lives in Ayr.
In his spare time he enjoys golf and is a member of Prestwick Golf Club.
Matt Smith, pictured on the left, was born in Kilwinning and attended Stevenston Primary and Higher Grade School and Ardrossan Academy.
After a brief period with Irvine Development Corporation, Matt was an officer in NALGO and head of the organisation in Scotland.
From 1993 - 2010 he was
He also held a range of appointments with the BBC, Church of Scotland, Equal Opportunities Commission (Scotland) and SCDI, becoming an Honorary Fellow.
He served on the Mcintosh Commission on local government and the Scottish Parliament and with the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution.
Since leaving UNISON, Matt’s roles include: Scottish Human Rights Commissioner; Scottish Standards Commission Member; Non Executive Director with Scottish Water, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company and Unity Enterprise.
He serves on the Regulation Board of ICAS, the Investigations Panel of CIPFA, North Strathclyde JPAC and SCDI Policy Committee. He is a trustee of West Kilbride Community Association.
From 1973 - 1975 Matt was a Councillor and Dean of Guild in Stevenston Burgh. In 1992, he was a Member and Group Leader on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference. Since 1986, he has served as a Justice of the Peace.
In 2004, he was honoured with an OBE.
Married to Eileen, they have a son and daughter. For many years they lived in Stevenston and now live in Seamill.
Matt's interests include public affairs and governance, ethical standards and human rights. In his spare time he enjoys travel, classical music, keeping fit and (recently) golf.