Former Debden Royal British Legion Branch Chairman, Colonel (Retd) Roger Burgess OBE, has just been appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Essex. The official announcement was made in last week’s edition of The London Gazette.

Colonel Burgess, who served in the 9th/12th Royal Lancers for over 30 years before retiring to live in Thaxted, is currently County Chairman of Essex County Royal British Legion.

The office of Lord Lieutenant is of military origin and dates back to the time of Henry VIII when they were appointed for the maintenance of order and for military purposes relating to local defence.

Nowadays the military role has largely disappeared and the Lord-Lieutenant’s primary role is to represent the Sovereign in their county. They generally also sit as magistrates, a nod to their historic role of Clerks of the Peace. Deputy Lieutenants assist in the performance of the Lord-Lieutenant’s public duty.

Colonel Burgess is well-known locally for his pro-active running of the Debden RBL branch during the years he was Chariman and organising its contributions to the local community, including the Armed Forces members stationed at Carver Barracks.

There is little doubt he will be equally as effective and dedicated in his new appointment!

The current Lord Lieutenant, Lord Petre, 18th Baron of the Petre family, completes his tenure early in August after fifteen years and hands over to Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, a former High Sheriff who lives in Danbury.

*Colonel (Retd) Roger Burgess OBE.