Community / Ex-police chief ‘honoured’ to become next lord lieutenant as Hunter retires
Lindsay Tulloch will be taking on the role from Hunter, who said he has ‘thoroughly enjoyed’ his time as Shetland’s lord lieutenant
SHETLAND is to get a new lord lieutenant in the coming months as Bobby Hunter steps down from the royal role.
Former police chief Lindsay Tulloch, who is currently a deputy lieutenant, will replace Hunter.
He said it is a “great honour and privilege” to be appointed to represent the king as lord lieutenant for Shetland.
Hunter, from Burra, will retire on 3 April – his 75th birthday. Lord lieutenants are required to step down when they reach this age.
He took on the role, which involves acting as the king or queen’s representative in Shetland, back in 2011.
Hunter said he has “thoroughly enjoyed” being lord lieutenant for the last 13 years.
He noted how a number of important events have taken place during that time, including the death of the Queen in 2022 and the subsequent coronation of the King.
Hunter attended the Edinburgh part of the funeral in St Giles’ Cathedral, and was also at the coronation at Westminster Abbey in London.
“It’s always been a pleasure going to things locally and making presentations and meeting folk,” he told Shetland News.
“I’ve done a lot of citizenships, and that’s always a very pleasant thing. There must be well over 100 folk that I’ve seen going through citizenships, from all parts of the world.”
Key duties for the job include attending civic and public events, and assisting royal visits to Shetland.
Hunter said there were three royal visits during his time – one from Prince Charles and a couple from Princess Anne – with the lord lieutenant tasked with helping to organise things.
It can be a varied role; for example one of the most recent engagements was the jovial Up Helly Aa civic reception in Lerwick Town Hall last week, but it also involves more sombre activities such as remembrance events and wreath laying.
Hunter highlighted in particular how Remembrance Sunday is an important part of the role.
He also reflected on how several hundred folk turned out for the reading of a proclamation for King Charles at the steps of Lerwick Town Hall in 2022.
Hunter added that having also visited the likes of Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, “I’ve been to places I would never had dreamt I would ever be”.
He also said being given the title of Commander, part of the Royal Victorian Order, from the King in November was a special moment, particularly as family came from across the world to attend.
Hunter added that he could not have done the role without having deputy lieutenants in place.
One of these deputies was Tulloch, who is stepping up to the main role. He was born and educated in Shetland, before joining the police service in 1992.
During 30 years in the police service he served across the Highland and Islands area.
He was senior investigating officer on a number of serious and high profile criminal investigations, rising through the ranks, serving for six years as police area commander for Shetland, and finally as superintendent within the Highland and Islands Division.
In January 2020, Tulloch was awarded the Queens Police Medal by the Queen.
Tulloch retired from the Police service in June 2022 and now lives with his wife on Bressay. They have one daughter.
He is involved in many local charities and has a keen interest in local history, culture and genealogy.
Speaking on Monday, Tulloch said: “As lord lieutenant, Bobby Hunter has been diligent in the execution of his duties over the past thirteen years.
“He has been involved [in], and supported a number of significant events and ceremonies for Shetland, including royal visits during this time.
“I have been fortunate to support Bobby as one of his deputies, and I very much look forward to taking on the role and hope to live up to the standards and expectations set.”
The UK Government confirmed on Monday that the king had approved the appointment of Tulloch to the role.
Prior to Hunter taking on the role in 2011, John Scott was lord lieutenant for Shetland from the mid 1990s.
There are lord lieutenants representing the monarch spread across the UK.
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