Kirkcudbrightshire lost one of its most popular public figures with the death of Patsy Gilroy this week.
Mrs Gilroy, ubiquitously known to everyone by her first name, had been battling a serious illness.
Patsy, 66, a former council convener, was Conservative councillor for Dee and Glenkens before being appointed Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in 2018.
News of her passing was met with sadness from across the political divide.
SNP councillor Dougie Campbell said: “I was very sad to hear that Patsy has passed away after a long illness.
“When I was newly elected in May 2017 as a fellow ward councillor Patsy was a good support to me.
“And although we came from different political perspectives we worked well together on behalf of our constituents.
“She had a keen sense of humour and we shared quite a few laughs, usually at each other’s expense.
“The Stewartry has lost a much respected public servant, former councillor and Lord Lieutenant.
“My thoughts are very much with Patsy’s family and friends at this sad time.“
Councillor Jane Maitland, leader of the council’s independent group, said: “Patsy and I began our political careers at the same election in 1999.
“There is a picture of the two of us looking pleased – and utterly exhausted – on election night.
“We had just won our respective single-member Kirkcudbright wards.
“Then came the change to multi-member wards.
“We shared the community work, dividing the responsibilities amicably and did our best to promote the Stewartry’s interests. Patsy will be remembered for her personal courage. She faced more than her fair share of family ill-health and tragedy and was characteristically stoical when speaking of her own final illness.”
“Latterly, Patsy was an elegant, charming and dignified Lord Lieutenant for the Stewartry.”
Conservative councillor Pauline Drysdale stepped into Patsy’s shoes after being elected in 2018.
She said: “Patsy Gilroy was committed to service, our region and to the people within it.
“She dearly loved the Stewartry and she was the perfect person to be appointed convener and Lord Lieutenant.
“Her brightness, enthusiasm and no nonsense approach was admired by so many.”
Depute Lord Lieutenant Chris Walker expressed his condolences to the family.
He said: “I was extremely sad to hear that Patsy Gilroy had lost her brave fight to cancer at the weekend.
“It was a privilege to work with her in her role as Lord Lieutenant and to be able to call her a friend.
“She had the ability to light up any room she walked into and sadly has been taken from us far too early.”
Council leader Elaine Murray said: “Patsy was a tremendous public servant, serving first as councillor from 1999 to 2018 and as Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright from 2018.”
Depute council leader Rob Davidson added: “I have fond memories of Patsy as a friend, a fellow councillor and as the first female convener of our council from 2007 to 2012.”
Patsy was a friend of Dumfries and Galloway MP Alister Jack and his family.
Mr Jack said: “We will miss Patsy greatly as will her many friends across the region.
“I’ve known her most of my life and she was always a very warm character and enormous fun to be with.
“In public life, she was a diligent and popular Dumfries and Galloway councillor, convener for a number of years and later became a very able Lord Lieutenant for The Stewartry who carried out her duties with great thought and attention to detail.”
Patsy, from East Kirkcarswell at Dundrennan, served as a director of the Wickerman Festival, founded by her late husband Jamie.
A district commissioner of The Stewartry Pony Club, she was chairman of the Three Counties Horse Show and committee member of the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children.
She is survived by daughter Jennie and two grandchildren.
