HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis, announced the appointment of her new Vice Lord-Lieutenant at a dinner held yesterday evening for her Deputy Lieutenants, to mark the retirement of her current Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Col Colin Mason OBE TD, on 19 August 2018.
Colin has been Vice Lord-Lieutenant since 2005 supporting the previous Lord-Lieutenant, Sir Samuel Whitbread KCVO DL until 2012, and being recommissioned on the appointment of the new Lord-Lieutenant, Helen Nellis.
The new Vice Lord-Lieutenant will be Colonel Christopher Hugh Sharwood-Smith MBE DL and his appointment will commence on 19 August 2018.
The Lord-Lieutenant, Helen Nellis, said: "I wish to pay tribute to the enormous contribution made by Colonel Mason in his 12 years of service as Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. He is a remarkable man of great integrity who has given loyal and dedicated service to the county and to HM The Queen. I look forward to working with his successor Colonel Chris Sharwood-Smith who will bring great experience and a big heart to the role."
What are Lord-Lieutenants?
The Lord-Lieutenant (/lɛfˈtɛnənt/) is the British monarch's personal representative in each county of the United Kingdom. Historically, the lieutenant was responsible for organising the county's militia. A Lord-Lieutenant is now an honorary titular position usually awarded to a retired notable person in the county.