A distinguished former Army Chaplain has been appointed to lead Scotland’s programme of commemorations for the centenary of the First World World War. Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, has announced in the Scottish Parliament that Norman Drummond will Chair a new Scottish Commemorations Panel.
Mr Drummond, 60, has served as a Chaplain in The Parachute Regiment and The Black Watch, and at Fettes College in Edinburgh. A Church of Scotland Minister, he has served as a Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen in Scotland since 1993.
He has been BBC National Governor for Scotland and a Parish Minister on the Isle of Skye, where he founded Columba 1400 – a groundbreaking Community and International Leadership Centre that supports young people to maximise their potential. Mr Drummond has also been Headmaster at Loretto School in Edinburgh.
Mr Drummond’s new role will be to recommend a preferred approach for Scotland’s commemorations of the forthcoming centenary of World War I, and to oversee the delivery of the programme.
Over the next few weeks Scottish Ministers will announce a panel of advisors from across Scotland to assist in this work. Mr Drummond and the panel will regularly report their progress to the Culture Secretary.
Mr Drummond will also represent Scotland on the UK’s Advisory Board for World War One commemorations.
His appointment follows last week’s announcement by the First Minister that a new £1 million fund will help to pay for the upgrade and maintenance of Scotland’s war memorials to commemorate those who lost their lives in the First World War.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:
“Norman Drummond has a distinguished career in many fields and his experience will be extremely helpful in guiding Scotland’s approach to commemorations over the period to 2018. His life has represented a personal commitment to leadership and to developing talent in others, and he will bring considerable expertise and ability to this important role.”
Norman Drummond said:
“I am delighted and honoured to accept this appointment. It is important that Scotland remembers the sacrifice of those who served during the First World War and the wider impact that the war has had on our country and upon Scots across the world.
“This is a significant educational opportunity for us all and I look forward to working with a distinguished panel as we shape Scotland’s commemorative programme, and also to representing Scotland on the UK’s Advisory Board for World War One commemorations.”
In 2009, Columba 1400 was named as Bank of Scotland/Sunday Times UK Social Entrepreneur of the Year and in June 2010, HRH The Princess Royal, as Patron, opened the latest Columba 1400 Centre on the shores of Loch Lomond.
A former chair of Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, Norman is also non-Executive Director of his fifth generation family shipping company J & J Denholm Ltd and in 1999 founded his own Leadership Consultancy, Drummond International. A Minister of the Church of Scotland, he has served as a Chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen in Scotland since 1993. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Visiting Professor of Leadership in Education at the University of Edinburgh, Norman is also an Honorary Doctor of Glasgow Caledonian University