Deputy Lord Lieutenant roles for well-known local figures
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TWO well-known community figures have been commissioned as Deputy Lieutenants for the county of Banffshire.
Portsoy’s Vinay Ruparelia and Professor Ashley Mowat from Cullen were presented with the roles at a special ceremony at Ballindaloch Castle yesterday (Monday).
The event was conducted by the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Clare Russell who welcomed the pair to the Banffshire Lieutenancy
Mrs Russell said: "I am delighted that Ashley and Vinay have joined the Banffshire ‘team’ and look forward very much to working with them. They will be a huge asset to the county."
Prof Mowat was born in Cullen and attended the town’s primary school. He received his secondary education at Fordyce Academy, before going on to study medicine at Aberdeen University.
His subsequent distinguished medical career has included appointments as clinical professor of medicine at Aberdeen university, president of the Scottish Society of Gastroenterology, president of the Association of Scottish Physicians and physician to the Queen in Scotland.
Now retired to his birthplace of Cullen, he takes a keen interest in local affairs, and is the chairman of Cullen and Deskford Community Council, a founding member and vice-chairman of the Three Harbours Committee, and vice-chairman of Moray’s FLAG Committee.
Mr Ruparelia is a dispensing chemist, and proprietor and managing director of George Ellis Ltd of Portsoy. As well as his Portsoy store, he had a shop in Banff’s High Street for decades before selling it last year.
He is chairman of the charitable organisation Books Abroad, and a founding member and director of the Aberdeenshire Life Education Centres.
His also chairman of Turning Point Scotland, which supports adults with learning difficulties, and a founding member of the Boyndie Trust, which provides unemployed adults with learning disabilities with work placement training.
Mr Ruparelia also serves as an Honorary Sheriff at Banff Sheriff Court.
