Congratulations Sir John, our Friend in Shetland
Thu, 16 Jun 2011
Her Majesty The Queen is now aware of what we in the International Island Games Association have known for quite a while. By honouring the Lord Lieutenant of Shetland, John Scott, with a knighthood the Queen has acknowledged his position as Her Representative. But not only that, Sir John was the Chairman of the Organising Committee for the NatWest Island Games 2005 in Shetland. He took the idea for our Games to his heart and supported them from the very first day. With genuine passion for international cooperation and competition John Scott and his Committee organisied a truly great Games on the smallest of our Host Islands. And they did it for the right reasons - to show themselves and the world that anything is possible as long as you do it together. John Scott was the man that kept everything together.
On behalf of the Member Islands of the International Island Games Association I congratulate Sir Jon on his new title!
Jorgen Pettersson
IIGA Chairman
Below is the article that appreared in the Shetland times on June 11 by their reporter Rosalind Griffins:
SHETLAND TIMES:
Lord Lieutenant of Shetland John Scott has been knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. Sir John, as he will now be known, was honoured thanks to his role as Lord Lieutenant, the Queen's representative in Shetland. He is now a Knight Commander of the Victorian Order (KCVO), a personal honour bestowed by the Queen rather than a political honour, which would go through the Prime Minister.
Sir John said: "I'm a bit amazed and very pleased. As well as a personal honour it's something I share with Shetland."
The honour is the only one to be given to anyone in the isles and the only KCVO in Scotland.
Sir John, who lives in Bressay, has been Lord Lieutenant of Shetland since 1994 and will hold that role until his 75th birthday on 30th November. As Lord Lieutenant he has to attend official functions such as Rememberance Sunday, organise royal visits and, importantly, go to all citizenship ceremonies. On these occasions he wears his ceremonial garb, complete with sword, and welcomes the new citizens to Shetland.
Being knighted does not carry any particular responsibilities, he said, and is keen to be simply know as "John".
