MEET Inverclyde's new royal representative - a community minded former army colonel.

Colonel Peter McCarthy from Kilmacolm says it is a huge privilege to be appointed by Her Majesty The Queen as the new Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire.

The 65-year-old father of three says he has big boots to fill as his predecessor Guy Clark, who steps down today, has been 'outstanding' in the role for the past 12 years.

Peter said: "It is an honour to take on the role.

"I wish to pay tribute to my predecessor, Guy Clark, who has carried out his duties with such distinction over the past 12 years.

"I very much look forward to meeting the wide and varied groups and residents from across the whole area as I attend events and ceremonies in the months and years ahead.”

One of his key roles will be to recognise the work of the thousands of volunteers across Inverclyde - something that Colonel McCarthy says he will relish.

He said: "I'm so excited to have the opportunity to engage with so many people across Inverclyde.

"The exciting bit for me is getting out and about in the community and to be able to thank people.

"The volunteer sector in this part of the world is extraordinary.

"I think in Inverclyde there's about 400 voluntary groups and about 1,400 across the lieutenancy."

He is also looking forward to marking special occasions in the community such as 100th birthdays.

Colonel McCarthy said: "There's nothing quite like sitting with someone who is 100 years old and listening to their stories.

"It's all about recognising people and their contributions over the years."

He is also keen to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor Mr Clark, by organising royal visits to the area.

Colonel McCarthy said: "The opportunity to represent Her Majesty The Queen and the other royal households is a huge honour.

"It's going to be quite busy because what I want to try and do is to be as successful as Mr Clark in bringing them to this part of the world, as that is something that people really enjoy.

"The respect that Her Majesty The Queen is held in as completely unparalleled and so to have her and the other royal family coming to visit from time to time is a wonderful thing to be able to be part of."

Colonel McCarthy, who has already served as a Deputy Lieutenant for Renfrewshire and vice Lord-Lieutenant, has a special affinity to Inverclyde through Jean, his wife of 37 years.

He said: "Jean has family connections which go back to the Drummonds.

"Her father Edwin Drummond had the Cooperage and Drummond Wood in Dellingburn Street and her two uncles John and Duncan ran Drummond Packaging on the site where Tesco is.

"And going back a generation, her grandfather was John Drummond, who was a provost, and her great grandfather was John Denholm from Denholm Shipping who was also a provost in Inverclyde.

"Her mother Jean, who was known as Jill, her side of the family were the Walker family who had the sugar refinery.

"Jean's roots are in this part of the world and they go back a very long way so that's why it's so special for me to be carrying out this particular role."

Colonel McCarthy, is from Reigate in Surrey and was educated at Purley based all-boys Roman Catholic school, John Fisher School, and Welbeck College.

After finishing his studies, he was commissioned into the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME) in 1973.

He completed a 30 year military career, which included service in Germany and Northern Ireland, attaining the rank of Colonel.

It was while based in Germany when Colonel McCarthy met Jean whom he went on to marry in Finnart St Paul's Church in Greenock.

The couple went on to have three children, William, 34, Charlie, 32, and Jamie, 29, and now have a grandchild, Oliver, who is 15 months old.

Colonel McCarthy says it'll be great to have his wife by his side as fills out his duties.

He said: "She will be a fantastic ally and I know she's looking forward to it just as much as I am.

"It will be wonderful for us both."

After leaving the Army in 2004, Peter became operations director with the British Red Cross in Glasgow.

He managed a large team which delivered services in West Central and South West Scotland for several years before taking on a part-time role in 2011 to support operations in the UK and abroad, before retiring in 2015.

Colonel McCarthy was elected to the Master Court of the Incorporation of Hammermen of Glasgow in 2010, and became Deacon in 2015.

In this capacity, he has also served as a trustee of the Trades House of Glasgow, where he chairs an external consultative group which provides advice on a support programme for children in kinship care.

Colonel McCarthy actively supports local veterans and is the Vice President of the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Association in Scotland, as well as being Patron of a local Army Cadet detachment.

In his spare time, he enjoys hill walking, watching rugby and cricket and he helps out with the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.