Killyleagh man selected as new Lord Lieutenant

Killyleagh man selected as new Lord Lieutenant

26 May 2021

KILLYLEAGH’S Gawn Rowan-Hamilton has been appointed as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Co Down.

His appointment was confirmed last week in a formal announcement from Downing Street with Mr Rowan-Hamilton succeeding another Killyleagh man, Mr David Lindsay, who is due to retire from the role in September.

The incoming Lord Lieutenant was educated at Eton College and Cambridge and is an accountant by training. He has worked for Ernst & Young and Schroders plc and was chief financial officer and  

and co-founder of Mergermarket Ltd until 2009.

He has been an investor in 15 start-up companies ranging from expert networks to technology-led bio-engineering 

businesses and was co-founder and chief financial officer with Taskmaestro Ltd and is currently a non-executive director of Eagle Alpha, an alternative data business in Dublin.

In a voluntary capacity, Mr Rowan-Hamilton helped establish the Hans Sloane 350 Committee, which holds events in the memory of Sir Hans Sloane in Killyleagh, his birthplace. 

He was President of the River Dibney Conservation Trust from 2010 until 2016 and was also President of the Irish International Fly Fishing Fair, raising funds for river conservation.

In 2017, he co-founded Killyleagh Community Association and is the organisation’s current treasurer. 

The organisation is responsible for arranging free community events and many smaller initiatives to address local issues such as anti-social behaviour and littering.

In 2020, Mr Rowan-Hamilton helped establish and coordinate the Killyleagh Area Covid Helpline, with over 95 volunteers delivering in excess of 500 packages during the pandemic.

He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for County Down in 2010.

Rowallane councillors Billy Walker and Robert Burgess have congratulated Mr  Rowan-Hamilton on his appointment and say he will be a terrific ambassador for Co Down.

Cllr Walker also paid tribute to Mr Lindsay who he met on a number of royal visits to the district.

He said the departing Lord Lieutenant always carried out his duties to the highest standard.

“Mr Rowan-Hamilton has been Mr Lindsay’s deputy for a number of years and he will seamlessly ease into the top role. There is simply no better person for this very important and high profile job and I wish him every good wish for the future,” said Cllr Walker.

“I have worked with Gawn for many years and he is a key member of the Killyleagh Community Association. I am delighted for him and his family that he will be the new Lord Lieutenant for Co Down in September which is also good news for Killyleagh.”

Cllr Walker added: “Gawn has made a major contribution to his home town of Killyleagh and is widely respected across the district and beyond.

“I am delighted he has been officially announced as the area’s new Lord Lieutenant and will soon be the Queen’s official representative in this part of Northern Ireland.”

Cllr Burgess extended his congratulations to the incoming Lord Lieutenant and said Mr Rowan Hamilton’s appoint was “another notable feather in Rowallane’s hat”.

“I was delighted to learn of the appointment and Her Majesty could have no better representative in Co Down. The new Lord Lieutenant is following illustrious footsteps but is the perfect man for the job in my opinion,” he added.