Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire facts for kids
A Lord Lieutenant is a special person who represents the King or Queen in a county, like Worcestershire. Think of them as the monarch's personal representative in that area. Their main job is to uphold the dignity of the Crown and promote a good community spirit.
The Lord Lieutenant helps with royal visits, presents awards on behalf of the King, and supports local groups and charities. It's a very important role that helps connect the local community with the royal family.
History of Lord Lieutenants in Worcestershire
The role of Lord Lieutenant has a long history in England, going back many centuries. These important people have served the monarch in Worcestershire for a very long time.
Before 1974, Worcestershire had its own Lord Lieutenants. For a short time, from 1974 to 1998, Worcestershire joined with Herefordshire to form a new area called Hereford and Worcester. During this period, there was one Lord Lieutenant for the combined area.
However, in 1998, Worcestershire and Herefordshire became separate counties again. This meant they each got their own Lord Lieutenant once more.
Lord Lieutenants of Worcestershire Since 1998
Since Worcestershire became a separate county again in 1998, several people have held the important role of Lord Lieutenant:
- Sir Thomas Dunne: He served from April 1, 1998, until September 27, 2001.
- Michael Brinton: He took over on September 27, 2001, and served until April 23, 2012.
- Lt Col Patrick Holcroft: He became Lord Lieutenant on December 28, 2012, and served until March 17, 2023.
- Beatrice Grant: She became the current Lord Lieutenant on March 17, 2023.
What are Deputy Lieutenants?
A deputy lieutenant is someone who helps the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire. They are chosen by the Lord Lieutenant to support their work. A county can have several deputy lieutenants, and the number often depends on how many people live in the county.
Deputy lieutenants assist with many duties, especially when the Lord Lieutenant is busy or unavailable. They do not lose their role if a new Lord Lieutenant is appointed, but they usually retire when they turn 75 years old.
