David M.S. Steel is no stranger to Tweeddale as he has represented the area in Parliament since he became the youngest member at a by election in 1965 until May 1997 when he decided to stand down.

Born in Scotland David spent four years at school in Nairobi and then at George Watson's College, Edinburgh. He read law at the Universiy of Edinburgh where he was President of the University Liberal Club and the Student's Representative Council. He later became Rector of Edinburgh Universiy for three years.

Before entering Parliament David was a journalist, broadcaster and television reporter for BBC Scotland. During his student days he visited the Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Berlin and Yugoslavia. During his 32 years in Parliament David Steel has been to the United Nations General Assembly, done lecture tours of the United States of America and travelled widely throughout the world.

From 197O to 1975 David Steel was Liberal Chief Whip and became Leader of the Liberal Party in l976 and in Januay 1977 became the youngest member of the Privy Council.

David Steel was awarded the Chubb Fellowship at Yale Universiy in 1987. In 1991 an Honoray Degree of Doctor by the University of Stirling, an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Buckingham Universiy and an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot Watt Universiy and 1997 the Universiy of Edinburgh made him an Honorary L.L.D.

In 1988 David was awarded the Freedom of Tweeddale, in 1990, the Freedom of Ettrick & Lauderdale. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the British Empire, in 1990 and in 1992 was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit (Germany).

David Martin Scott Steel took his seat in the House of Lords on 11 June 1997 as Lord Steel of Aikwood and we are delighted that he has been able to accept our invitation to be Chieftain this year and that he will be accompanied by his wife Judy.