THE LORDSHIP & BARONY OF KILMARNOCK
THE BARON
Eur Ing David Ayre, Baron of Kilmarnock, is a retired Chartered Electrical Engineer.
He is a former Annadale grammar school pupil, and served his apprenticeship in transistor radio & TV engineering with Perdio Limited in London and Sunderland. His career later changed to electronics, instrumentation and onshore project engineering in Scotland's North Sea oil & gas industry.
David has four University degrees, including BA, BSc, and BSc (Hons), in Engineering Design, Computing, and Electronics. His fourth degree is the Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering Project Management gained at Lancaster University in 1996/7. He was awarded the post-graduate Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) by the University of Northumbria.
After completing an IEE electronics project at BSc (Hons) level he became a Chartered Electrical Engineer and a registered CEng. The pre-nominal Eur Ing (Européen Ingénieur) designation conferred from Brussels by FEANI confirms his status as a Chartered Engineer recognised throughout the European Economic Community.
In 2006 he commenced research into 'Web-based Information System Definition, Operation and Maintenance' for his PhD thesis with the University of Ulster, but in January 2007 a retinal tear occurred in his right eye requiring three operations, and in the December a similar problem occurred unexpectedly with his left eye which required one operation in January 2008.
Sadly, the PhD research has been postponed indefinitely.
HERALDRY AND THE BARONAGE
Heraldry serves to identify. Armorials often indicate one's pedigree and one's career choice, and perhaps the values and beliefs that define the bearer. It puts down roots for all those who follow, and provides a factual reference to an individual, for virtue, not pedigree, is the mark of nobility (Nobilitatis virtus non stemma). When David Ayre acquired the lands, Lordship & Barony of Kilmarnock, the Lord Lyon agreed to include a reference to the Lordship & Barony of Kilmarnock on his Coat of Arms.
By inheritance the dignity of Baron will descend to David, his son and heir apparent.
'Baron of Kilmarnock' is a feudal title and is a territorial dignity, whereas 'Baron Kilmarnock' is a peerage title and a personal dignity. Furth of Scotland the difference is often misunderstood or confused.
MEMBERSHIP
David is a Member of The Convention of the Baronage of Scotland and a Board Member of The Society of Scottish Armigers. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of The Collegium Heraldicum Russiae (CHR) in 2004 in recognition of his services to the College.
He is a Freemason, and is a Member of the Horseman's Word.