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Lieutenancy of Kent appoints seven new deputies

The Lieutenancy of Kent has appointed seven new deputies.

Each has been honoured for their positive contributions to the county.

They are Brigadier (Retd) Nick Baveystock, Colonel Christopher Gilbert, The Very Reverend Dr Philip Hesketh, Joanna Holmes, Nicholas Marden LVO, Melissa Murdoch and Victoria Wallace.

Viscount De L’Isle, The Lord-Lieutenant of Kent
Viscount De L’Isle, The Lord-Lieutenant of Kent

The position dates back to Tudor times when they were responsible for the county's local defence and maintenance of order.

Their duties include greeting and accompanying royalty and heads of state during official visits to Kent, presentation of honours and awards on behalf of the crown and citizenship ceremonies.

It is an unpaid and non-political role and there are 70 deputy lieutenants across the county.

Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, Viscount De L’Isle CVO MBE said: “We welcome these exceptional new Deputy Lieutenants whose wide breadth of experience will further add to a strong team of men and women who help me support Her Majesty The Queen and her Family within the ceremonial county of Kent”.

Brigadier Nick Baveystock has lived in Bearsted since 2011 and is the director general of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Brigadier Nick Baveystock
Brigadier Nick Baveystock

He was a Royal Engineer for over 25 years and has severed across the world including Northern Ireland, the Balkans and Iraq.

His final appointment was as Commandant of the Royal School of Military Engineering in Chatham.

Mr Baveystock is now on the board of Engineering UK and Mid Kent College Training Services, Vice Chair of Thomas Telford Ltd, an alumnus of the Royal College of Defence Studies, and Vice President of the Institution of Royal Engineers.

Colonel Chris Gilbert was born in Chatham and lived all his life in and around the Medway towns.

Colonel Chris Gilbert
Colonel Chris Gilbert

After completing his mechanical engineering training within the avionics industry, he has spent over 35 years in engineering and operational management, mainly in the non-ferrous and precious metals industry.

He had been a cadet, adult volunteer and officer with Kent Army Cadet Force since the age of 13 and became Commandant Kent Army Cadet Force in 2014.

Mr Gilbert is still an active member and supporter of the Army Cadet Force and is a governor at a large community primary school.

The Very Revd Dr Philip Hesketh was born in Southport and brought up in the Isle of Man.

The Very Revd Dr Philip Hesketh
The Very Revd Dr Philip Hesketh

He was ordained in Canterbury in 1994 and became vicar of St.Stephen's in Chatham until appointed the Canon Pastor at Rochester Cathedral in 2005.

He is Vice-Chair of King's School, Rochester and a trustee at Rochester Math and a Kent Ambassador.

He became Dean of Rochester in 2016.

Joanna Holmes joined Kent County Council in 2003 and previously worked for Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council for nearly 15 years.

Joanna Holmes
Joanna Holmes

She worked in the Chairman’s Office before moving to her current role in the Lieutenancy Office in 2004 as the Deputy Clerk.

This involves helping the Lord-Lieutenant to run the Lieutenancy office.

Ms Holmes supports a number of charities including The Royal British Legion Industries and Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.

Nicholas Marden has lived in Kent since 1995 and was appointed Private Secretary to HRH The Duke of Kent in 2011, accompanying His Royal Highness on a number of visits to the county.

Nicholas Marden LVO
Nicholas Marden LVO

When young, he completely a short Service Commission in the Army, and went on to spend 37 years at the Foreign and Commonwealth office.

He also worked closely with a number of national charities before retiring last year.

Mr Marden still remains an Extra Equerry to The Duke.

Melissa Murdoch has lived in Horsmonden since 2012 and began her career working on law and democracy projects in Cambodia and economic empowerment of women in Peru.

Melissa Murdoch
Melissa Murdoch

Now she spends the majority of her time as a Trustee of The Garfield Weston Foundation, Reta Lila Howard Foundation, Kent Community Foundation, and Sevenoaks School Foundation.

Ms Murdoch studied psychology and anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta and has an MBA from Georgetown University in Washington DC.

Victoria Wallace was born and educated in Kent, and lives in Maidstone.

Victoria Wallace
Victoria Wallace

After a career in the diplomatic service, which included postings to Thailand and Tanzania, she was justices chief executive for Sussex Magistrates’ courts, before moving to the Leeds Castle Foundation where she was chief executive for ten years.

Since 2014, she has been the director general of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

She is also honorary secretary of the Association of Independent Museums, and a former trustee of the Army Museums Ogilby Trust and a board member of several other Kent organisations.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

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