New Lord Lieutenant for Moray announced

Downing Street has confirmed that His Majesty The King has appointed Air Commodore Alistair Monkman CBE to succeed Major General Seymour Monro CBE LVO as Lord Lieutenant for Moray.

Major General Monro is due to retire on 7 May 2025 after five years as Moray’s Lord Lieutenant.

Alistair lives in Garmouth with his wife, Sandy, who recently retired from Dr Gray’s Hospital where she worked as a Consultant Radiologist. Alistair retains his links with the RAF as the Honorary Air Commodore of 2622 (Highland) Squadron Royal Auxiliary Air Force based at RAF Lossiemouth.

Speaking of his appointment, Alistair said: “It is a huge honour to be asked to represent Moray and I must start by thanking Seymour, on behalf of the people of Moray, for his excellent and unrelenting service over the last five years and beyond. I’m very much looking forward to becoming Lord Lieutenant for Moray when Seymour retires in May and I’m absolutely delighted to be offered the opportunity to serve and support our communities across the county.”

Major General Seymour Monro CBE LVO congratulated Air Commodore Monkman on his appointment: “I am thrilled that His Majesty has appointed Alistair Monkman to be the next Lord- Lieutenant. I first knew him as the Station Commander at Lossie, worked with him during the Pandemic on the Moray Emergency Relief Fund and handed over the HAC 2622 (Highland) Squadron appointment to him. He has been a Deputy Lieutenant for five years. I know he will make an excellent Lord- Lieutenant for Moray”.

Background

Alistair gained his private pilots' licence aged 17 and joined the Royal Air Force as a Tornado pilot in 1985. During 27 years of service, Alistair flew over 500 hours of combat operations over Iraq, Serbia and Afghanistan, including with the United States Air Force, and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and the Legion of Merit by the USA. Alistair moved to Moray in 2003 and served at RAF Lossiemouth as Officer Commanding 617 Squadron and then Station Commander, during which time he was an ADC to Her Majesty the Queen. He was awarded a CBE in the 2010 New Year's Honours list.

Alistair supports a number of charities and chairs the Moray Emergency Relief Fund. He is also an Assessor for the Moray Community Foundation. His interests include cycling and endurance hill walking and has undertaken annual long distance walks every year since 2012. His passion, however, is the management of wild deer and he is a Trustee Director of the British Deer Society, chairing the BDS' Scottish Council.