Farm girl Hilary digging deep for her latest role

Farm shop owner and Justice of the Peace Hilary Cochran is looking ahead to a new role as a Deputy Lieutenant of East Lothian.

Hilary, 55, is one of three new appointments in the role which supports the Lord Lieutenant of East Lothian, Sir Garth Morrison CBE, joining Patrick Gammell and Elizabeth Nicoll.

The three new appointees will replace outgoing deputes Roy Cameron, who has moved to Glasgow, and Stephen Bunyan and John Stevenson who have both reached the retirement age of 75.

The role includes assisting on state visits and helping Sir Garth in his duties as Lord Lieutenant.

Hilary said: "It was a great honour to find out and I look forward to supporting Sir Garth in his duties."

Born near Leuchars, Fife, Hilary attended school at St Leonard's in St Andrews and went on to study for a history degree at the University of London.

After completing her degree she worked for about ten years for the Scotch Whisky Association before being appointed as a JP in East Lothian.

Hilary has been a partner in her husband's farming business since 2003 and runs a shop at Knowes Farm, near East Linton. She has also been a Justice of the Peace in Haddington for the past 20 years.

The farm shop takes up a lot of time. Hilary said: "It's a very traditional farm shop, we have a wide range of locally produced products. As both of my parents were farmers it's in my blood, or should I say, under my fingertips".

Away from her farming duties, Hilary is also the vice-president of the Royal Highland Show and is keen to encourage young people to get involved with the agricultural market.

She said: "Farming is very important and central to the Scottish economy and I am keen for people to find about the exciting and rewarding careers available to them."

Elizabeth Nicoll, a home economics teacher at Preston Lodge High School, who has been heavily involved in the Girl Guide movement for more than 40 years will also be taking up the position.

She was born in Falkirk and received a degree in home economics from Queen Margaret College. She was also the Scottish advisor of the Council for Girl Guides and County Commissioner for East Lothian for five years.

The third new appointee is Patrick Gammell, a fully qualified chartered surveyor who has lived in the county since 1981. He has set up his own firm specialising in the restoration of historic and listed buildings and is currently the depute chair of the Lamp of Lothians Collegiate Trust.