 The Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset
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Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of a County is an Honorary Officer appointed by The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. He or she is the permanent representative of the Crown in that County and normally serves until retirement at between 70 and 75 years of age.
Somerset Lieutenancy covers the historic County of Somerset (that is the areas administered by Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, and Somerset County Councils. Click the map to see more). The total population of these areas at the last census was 851,657.
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The Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset is:
Lady Gass JP
Fairfield
Stogursey
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA5 IPU
The office dates from the reign of Henry VIII, and the Lord-Lieutenant was originally responsible for the maintenance of order and for local defence.
Nowadays the responsibilities of the Lord-Lieutenant include:
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All aspects of visits by members of the Royal Family, and escorting Royal Visitors;
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Presentation of awards and medals on behalf of The Queen;
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Representing The Queen at a variety of events;
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Chairmanship of the Advisory Committee which recommends the appointment of magistrates to the Lord Chancellor;
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Liaison with local units of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, and with the Reserve Forces and Cadets;
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Participation in civic and voluntary activity within the Lieutenancy;
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Advising on honours nominations.
On ceremonial occasions male Lord-Lieutenants wear uniform, women a special badge.
The Lord-Lieutenant is supported by a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and by Deputy Lieutenants, whom she appoints from people who have rendered particular service to the County in a variety of ways, the number depending on the size of population. There are normally between 30 and 40 Deputy Lieutenants.
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant is:
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathurst GCB, DL, who lives at Chilton Polden.
The Clerk to the Lieutenancy:
Mr Alan Jones.
Information can be obtained from:
Diane Stanton
Lieutenancy Office
County Hall
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4DY
Telephone: (01823) 355509
Fax: (01823) 356788
Email: DStanton@somerset.gov.uk.
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