Anne Dunnett's life 'can be an example to all of us', says Lord Thurso
Anne Dunnett was "right at the centre of Caithness community life" throughout her time as Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness, Lord Thurso has said.
Miss Dunnett, from Wick, served in the role for 13 years after replacing Major Graham T Dunnett in 2004. She died this week aged 81.
Lord Thurso, who succeeded Miss Dunnett as Lord-Lieutenant in 2017, said he would remember her as "a tremendously engaged Lord-Lieutenant".
He said: "As Lord-Lieutenant she was right at the centre of Caithness community life, representing the monarchy very well, and being a superb champion for local charities and organisations.
"But I will also remember her for her life story of gaining qualifications through night school and becoming a solicitor through force of will and courage, and I think her life can be an example to all of us.
"She was determined to see Caithness people do well. She made sure her deputies were good Caithness folk, as it were, which I've inherited."
Miss Dunnett, who ran her own legal firm in Wick for many years, was made a CVO – Commander of the Royal Victorian Order – when she turned 75 and retired as Lord-Lieutenant.
At the proclamation of King Charles III in Wick in September 2022, Miss Dunnett explained that she was wearing the medal for the first time since receiving it from the late Queen.
Jamie Stone, the MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: "I overlapped with Anne as Lord-Lieutenant during my time as the MSP for the county. She was one of the kindest people I have ever known – and in particular the way she kept a special eye out for my wife Flora, who is disabled, meant more to us than I can say.
"She was a shining example to us all."
Caithness Vice-Lieutenant Willie Watt said: "Anne will be forever remembered as one the most community-involved Lord-Lieutenants Caithness has ever been blessed with and a helpful, supportive friend to so many."
Miss Dunnett's father, William Dunnett, was a provost of Wick.
She was a lifelong tennis fan and a formidable player. On one occasion, as a schoolgirl, she took on and beat a visitor to Wick who told her he was the Glasgow boys' singles champion.
She would recall how it was Mr Brooks, a gym teacher at Wick North School, who first spotted her tennis ability.
In an interview for the Wick Voices oral history project in 2016, Miss Dunnett told how she had met the former Wimbledon ladies' singles champion Virginia Wade during a coaching event at Gleneagles.
She said at the time: "I went back two years later and Virginia said, 'I don't remember you, Anne, but I do remember your backhand.' And that backhand is owed to Mr Brooks, the gym teacher in Wick.
"Also on that occasion Judy Murray came along with her two wee boys, Jamie and Andy, and it was lovely to see them doing so well in later life.
"I have an absolute passion still for tennis but unfortunately, since I became Lord-Lieutenant, I've never held my tennis racket except to give it the occasional hug and make sure that the strings are okay."
Miss Dunnett also had a great enthusiasm for family history. One of her research projects emerged from her visits to New Zealand and centred on Donald Sutherland, a Wick-born soldier, sailor, fisherman, prospector and explorer after whom the 1904ft Sutherland Falls on South Island were named.
One of her many roles in the community had been as honorary president of the local corps of Sea Cadets.
Miss Dunnett's funeral service will be held in Pulteneytown Parish Church on Thursday (11am).
