Lord-Lieutenant

Who is the Lord-Lieutenant?

HM Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding of Yorkshire is currently Mr James Dick, OBE.

Mr Dick had a highly successful career with the Hull-based medical device company Smith and Nephew, the last seven years as Global President of the Wound Management Division.  

Since retirement, he has invested considerable time and energy into voluntary work, most notably as the co-founder and Chair of CatZero, a charity which has transformed the lives of young people and families living in some of the most deprived communities in the region.  

He has also served as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Hull; founder and Chair of Trustees of the Smile Foundation, supporting local charities; a co-founder and director of local radio station KCFM and co-founder and former Chair of the Bondholders, an organisation responsible for marketing the Humber region.  

He has also held a range of non-executive directorships with private and listed companies.    

The Lieutenancy of the East Riding of Yorkshire

What is the Lord-Lieutenant’s role?

The fundamental principle concerning the office of Lord-Lieutenant is that they are the King’s representative in the county and consequently it is their first and foremost duty to uphold the dignity of the Crown. As the King’s representative in the county, the Lord-Lieutenant remains non-political, does not hold office in any political party and is unpaid. Their main duties are:

• to organise Royal visits to the county and to meet and attend His Majesty and the Members of the Royal family, and visiting Heads of State on visits to the county
• to advise on honour nominations
• submit a limited number of names to Buckingham Palace for attendance at one of His Majesty’s Royal garden parties
• to present awards to organisations/companies such as the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service
• to present awards to individuals such as CBEs, OBEs, MBEs (when the recipient cannot for some reason go to Buckingham Palace), bravery awards and the Elizabeth Cross
• to act as Custos Rotulorum – Keeper of the Rolls for Commissions of Peace. They are the Chief Magistrates in the county and acts as Chairman to the Lord Chancellors Advisory Committee on the Appointment of Justices of the Peace
• appoints up to three young people from the Royal Navy, Army, and Air Cadet Associations to act as Lord-Lieutenant’s cadets for one year accompanying the Lord-Lieutenant on some of their duties
• to represent His Majesty at events throughout the East Riding of Yorkshire and the City of Kingston upon Hull; and
• to carry out duties connected with the Armed Forces and the Volunteer Reserve Forces including the presentation of Lord-Lieutenant Certificates for Meritorious Service.

In addition, the Lord-Lieutenant is involved with numerous voluntary organisations.

The Lord-Lieutenant, for ceremonial purposes, covers both the East Riding of Yorkshire and the City of Kingston upon Hull and is supported in the role by a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and a number of Deputy Lieutenants.

The legislation website offers information on the Lieutenancies Act 1997:

Lieutenancies Act 1997 (external website)

Visit the East Riding Lieutenancy website to find out more information about the service:

East Riding Lieutenancy - How the Lieutenancy can help you

Who is the Vice Lord-Lieutenant and what are Deputy Lieutenants?

Vice Lord-Lieutenant

The Vice Lord-Lieutenant carries out the normal duties of the Lord-Lieutenant should they be away, ill or unable to attend an event. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant stands down from their position when a new Lord-Lieutenant is appointed. 

Deputy Lieutenants

Deputy Lieutenants are appointed upon the recommendation of the Lord-Lieutenant and, in doing so, recognises their contribution to local, county or national life. There are approximately 29 Deputy Lieutenants, the number appointed is determined upon the number of residents within the Lieutenancy area such as the first 150,000 residents there may be 20 Deputies; from 150,000 to 200,000 an additional one to every 10,000; from 200,000 to 1,000,000 an additional one for every 25,000. Deputy Lieutenants are expected to support the Lord-Lieutenant within the county and in particular carry out duties as directed, such as:

• recommending candidates for invitations to Royal garden parties
• suggesting suitable enterprises, both voluntary and professional, which might be the subject of Royal visits
• commenting on honour nominations
• assess nominations for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service; and
• represent the Lord-Lieutenant at various functions such as citizenship ceremonies, dinners, church services, presentations, lunches, receptions, remembrance services, etc.

Once appointed, a Deputy Lieutenant can use the initials DL after their name and will remain in office until their 75th birthday, although they can retire earlier through ill health. Retired Deputy Lieutenants continue to contribute to the work of the county and offer their support in many varied ways.

See the list containing the Vice Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants

Please use the button below to access the page containing the latest list of Lieutenancy Officers:

East Riding Lieutenancy - Your Lieutenancy

What is the High Sheriff’s role?

The Office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year and is the oldest secular office in the United Kingdom after the Crown with its origins dating back to Saxon times when the 'Shire Reeve' was responsible to the King for the maintenance of law and order within the shire or county and for the collection and return of taxes due to the Crown. Today, there are 55 High Sheriffs serving the counties of England and Wales.

Nominations to the Office of High Sheriff are dealt with through the Presiding Judge of the Circuit and the Privy Council for consideration by The King who traditionally 'pricks' the appointee's name with a bodkin following which a Warrant of Appointment is issued.

The principal formal duties of the High Sheriff of the East Riding of Yorkshire which, for ceremonial purposes, covers the City of Kingston upon Hull, include attendance at Royal visits to the County and support for His Majesty's High Court Judges.

These days, however, High Sheriffs play an increasingly active and supportive role within their Counties both in relation to the Police and emergency services and in lending encouragement to public sector agencies such as the probation and prison services and to voluntary sector organisations involved in crime reduction and social cohesion.

High Sheriffs receive no remuneration and no part of the expense of a High Sheriff's year falls on the public purse.

The High Sheriff's website offers further information:

High Sheriff's Association of England and Wales (external website)