Although born in Edinburgh she lived most of her life in Hawick and was a devoted Borderer. In addition to the many medical committees with which she was connected and her role with the Girl Guides, Dr Paterson-Brown was a director of
Border Television and a former vice-chairwoman of the Prince’s Trust. She also had the unique distinction of being the first female Lord Lieutenant in Scotland, an institution established in 1557.
Dr Paterson-Brown had been a deputy Lord Lieutenant, but in recognition of her contribution to the Borders she became, in 1988, the Queen’s representative for Roxburgh, Ettrick and Lauderdale when the Duke of Buccleuch retired. It was the Duke’s personal recommendation that she be appointed.
At the time she said: “I was shocked and didn’t think I was suited or qualified for the position. For a start, I told him, I was just an ordinary person and didn’t have any aristocratic roots or a military background.”
Dr Paterson-Brown accepted the post and Lord Sanderson, who succeeded her as Lord Lieutenant, recalls: “She carried out all her duties with utmost tact, courtesy and immense style. June was always modest, unassuming and preferred things kept on a low key.
“I had known her, and her husband Peter, for half a century and she was dignified in everything she did and always concerned for others.”
Dr Paterson-Brown was the daughter of Wing Commander Thomas Garden CA and attended Esdale College in Edinburgh, which was evacuated to Ayton
Castle in Berwickshire during the war. She read medicine at the Edinburgh Medical School and on graduating in 1955 worked as a junior houseman attached to Professor Sir John Learmonth’s unit at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. She married Dr Peter Paterson-Brown in 1957 and they moved to Hawick where he joined a general practice.
In Hawick she gave stalwart support to her husband, and started giving talks at family planning clinics in 1960. The subject was one of considerable sensitivity in those days and Dr Paterson-Brown’s tact was needed to convince expectant mothers that they required support and guidance. The clinics were held in Hawick and Galashiels and Dr Paterson-Brown her talks in virtual darkness with one light illuminating the blackboard.
That was to avoid people being recognised and to avoid causing embarrassment in the town. Her genuine concern for generations of expectant mothers gained her widespread praise, as did her work with the Well Woman clinics. To her not inconsiderable surprise, she went into labour with her third child during one of the lectures.
One of Dr Paterson-Brown’s lifelong interests was the Girl Guide movement in Scotland. She devoted much time and energy to visiting groups throughout Scotland and travelled the world when Chief Commissioner for the Commonwealth.
She was appointed District Commissioner for Hawick North in 1963 and in 1969 County Commissioner for Roxburghshire. Other posts included Scottish Chief Commissioner from 1977 to 1982 and she became Chief Commissioner for the UK in 1985. In 1989 she was awarded the Silver Fish, the highest award in Guiding, given for exceptional service over 30 years.
Dr Paterson-Brown officiated at many functions during her time as Lord Lieutenant and she much enjoyed getting around and chatting to people. She and Lord Sanderson were involved with high-
profile events in the Borders during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and the 60th anniversary celebrations of the end of the Second World War.
“June treated all the events of equal importance and nothing was ever too much trouble for her,” Lord Sanderson said. “She had a wonderful ability to put people at their ease. Mark you, on the golf course or at the bridge table she was fiercely competitive.”
As a trustee of the MacRobert Trust, Dr Paterson-Brown, had a considerable influence on the disposal of its funds and was much involved, for example, with finding funds for the children’s hospice in Kinross. The family were keen
skiers, but in 1992 she had to give up after fracturing her femur in France. That did not stop her and her husband cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End the following year and raising £12,500 for their favourite charities.
Dr Paterson-Brown was awarded the CBE in 1991 and named the Tweeddale Press Group’s Man of the Year in the 1980s. “I wasn’t annoyed it was man of the year and not lady,” she said. “What’s important is what you do in the post.”
When she was appointed Lord Lieutenant, Dr Paterson-Brown was similarly forthright: “As far as I’m concerned being called Lord Lieutenant or Lady Lord Lieutenant makes no difference to me.”
It is her work with the Girl Guides for which this modest, kindly and genuine woman may best be remembered.
Dinah Faulds, Scottish Chief Commissioner of Girlguiding Scotland, 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 shiest Brownie or boldest leader.”
Dr Paterson-Brown is survived by her husband, three sons and a daughter.
Doctor and Scotland’s first female Lord Lieutenant;
Born February 8 1932;
Died December 6 2009.
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