June Paterson-Brown

June Paterson-Brown, née Garden CBE CVO (8 February 1932 – 6 December 2009) was a British medical doctor, early family planning advocate, Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association, and the first female Lord Lieutenant in Scotland.[1]

Early life and education

June Garden was born on 8 February 1932 in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was the daughter of Jean Mallace and Thomas Garden.[1] Wing Commander CA.[2] She graduated from the University of Edinburgh Medical School in 1955.

Career

Medical doctor

After graduation, she became employed at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where she worked as a junior houseman.[3] In 1956, she transferred to East Fortune Hospital where patients were treated for tuberculosis.[2] In 1957, she married Peter Neville Paterson-Brown, a general practitioner, and moved to Hawick in the Scottish Borders.[1]

Paterson-Brown became increasingly involved in family planning advocacy beginning in 1960 when she started to give talks at family planning clinics. Because family planning was a sensitive topic at the time, she gave talks "in virtual darkness with one light illuminating the blackboard," which helped to provide attendees a degree of anonymity. She continued providing support and guidance related to family planning for years, and was publicly praised for her work assisting "generations of expectant mothers."[3]

Lord Lieutenant

In 1998, she was appointed to succeed the Duke of Buccleuch as the first female Lord Lieutenant in Scotland, serving as the Queen's representative for Roxburgh, Ettick and Lauderdale.[1] Her appointment was reportedly made on the personal recommendation from the Duke.[3] Paterson-Brown held the position from 1998 to 2007.[3]

Awards and honours
  • Tweeddale Press Group’s “Man of the Year”, 1980[3]
  • Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 1991[4]
  • Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO), 2007[4]

Personal life

Following a long-time interest in the Girl Guides, Paterson-Brown held a number of leadership positions in the Girl Guides Association,[1] now known as the Girlguiding Scotland. In 1963, she was appointed District Commissioner for Hawick North, and in 1969, she was appointed County Commissioner for Roxburgshire.[5] She went on to hold the title of Scottish Chief Commissioner from 1977 to 1982, and Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association from 1985 to 1990.[1]

Dinah Faulds, Scottish Chief Commissioner from 1977 to 1982 said, "I found that wherever I travelled in Scotland on Guide business members would ask after June. She was gracious, keenly interested in taking the movement forward and equally at ease with the shyest Brownie or boldest leader.”[5] In 1989, she was awarded for her exceptional 30 years of service to the Girl Guides with the Silver Fish, the organisation's highest honour.[3]

Paterson-Brown died in Hawick on 6 December 2009.[1]

References
  1. The new biographical dictionary of Scottish women. Ewan, Elizabeth. Edinburgh. ISBN 9781474436298. OCLC 1057237368.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. "June Paterson-Brown". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  3. "Dr June Paterson-Brown; doctor and Scotland's first female Lord Lieutenant". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  4. "Honour for arts festival supremo". 2007-06-15. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  5. "June Paterson Brown: chief commissioner of the Girl Guides". The Times. 2010-01-27. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
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