THE LORDSHIP & BARONY OF KILMARNOCK
THE BARONESS
Patricia Ayre née Mitchell, Baroness of Kilmarnock, is the Baron's darling.
Her father William Mitchell was born in Wanlockhead, Dumfriesshire, (see photographs page HERE) at 1531 feet the highest village above sea-level in Scotland. Some of the village is named after the family eg. Mitchell Place. Whilst many of the Mitchell family of Wanlockhead managed or worked at leadmining, her father was a soldier and a sergeant in the King's Own Scottish Borders Regiment.
After the untimely death of two of her beloved Siamese cats she became a fund-raising costumed 'Catwoman', and with school children she raised public awareness and money for feline leukaemia.
Patricia (Pat) passed the Advanced Driving Test in 1978 and has been a Member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists for over thirty years.
Living in a rural community, Pat was a member of the local Scottish Women's Rural Institute. In 1990 the SWRI launched a national 'Woman Driver of the Year' competition. After winning the first round (an economy drive) she represented the Orkney Islands SWRI. The second challenge was held in Inverness. Competing for the title 'North of Scotland Woman Driver 1990' it involved roadcraft and maneouvering against the clock. After beating thirty contestants, she was declared 'The Best Female Driver in the North'.
After her husband's career was established, Pat decided on a new career and became an Enrolled Nurse in the NHS. She retired in 2002, and worked part-time for the Tourist Board. She is presently a volunteer with the RSPB.
INTERESTS
Pat enjoys cinema, theatre, world travel and cuisine, keeping fit, cycling, and running for sponsored events. Apart from many half-marathons, she ran the Edinburgh Marathon.
In June 2008 she ran the Hoy half-marathon in Orkney, the second hardest in Scotland due to the hills, and received a special award for her age group. She continued in 2009 as current group champion. In October 2008 - for the third time - she ran the Great North Run half-marathon for Diabetes UK. She achieved her personal best time of 1 hour 53 minutes, finishing in fourth place in her category.
Later in June 2008, Pat and her running companion Kay Mills climbed Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles (1344m).
In 2009 she climbed six munros (914.4m) during the Aviemore and the Cairngorms Walking and Mountain Festival.