I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of retired Deputy Lieutenant John McKenzie, who passed away on Monday 29 June 2026, following a period of illness.
John was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Lanarkshire in 2011 and served with great distinction until his retirement in 2021. He was an exemplary Deputy Lieutenant: generous with his time, committed in his service, and always willing to go the extra mile.
John was the driving force behind bringing schools into Citizenship Ceremonies, working closely with Chief Executives, Directors of Education, Provosts, and Registrars from both North and South Lanarkshire to secure their support for this initiative. His vision and meticulous planning were also instrumental in establishing our schools’ public speaking competition and helping it grow into the success it is today.
Through his lifelong commitment to public service, John made a lasting difference to many lives, communities, and organisations across Lanarkshire and beyond. This included more than 30 years’ service as a respected police officer, his work with South Lanarkshire Council to tackle anti-social behaviour, and his dedicated contribution as a Deputy Lieutenant. He will be very sadly missed by all who knew him.
On behalf of everyone at the Lanarkshire Lieutenancy I extend my heartfelt condolences to John’s family and friends at this very sad time.
Lady Haughey (Susan) CBE
Lord-Lieutenant of Lanarkshire