THE DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS
The Lord-Lieutenant is supported in her work by a team of Deputy Lieutenants (DL) across the county. The size of the population of Buckinghamshire determines the maximum number of DLs that the Lord-Lieutenant may appoint. Buckinghamshire currently has 29 active Deputy Lieutenants who form an influential body of people well placed to support the county in many ways.
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Deputy Lieutenants are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant. They come from all walks of life and all parts of the County and are all people who have given significant service to their country or county. The role of Deputy Lieutenants, like that of the Lord-Lieutenant is non-political.
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Deputy Lieutenants reflect a broad range of services to the community, cultural background, ethnic mix, gender and social range. Their local and specialist knowledge and experience is increasingly being used to positive effect in key sectors ranging from education to youth services, and from business to the rural economy. They are the eyes and ears of the Lieutenancy in our local communities and liaise closely with many organisations throughout the County.
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Deputy Lieutenants support the work of the Lord-Lieutenant. They represent the Lord-Lieutenant in a wide range of public duties and at many engagements throughout Buckinghamshire. They play a particularly important ceremonial role at the many Citizenship Ceremonies.
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Deputy Lieutenants are particularly involved in encouraging voluntary organisations and charities – not least through their active work in encouraging and assisting with the assessment process of the Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service.
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Deputy Lieutenants may wear a special badge when they are representing the Lord-Lieutenant​.
Scroll to learn more about our Deputy Lieutenants or click on the buttons to view by area.
To contact any of our Deputy Lieutenants please use the contact form.
AYLESBURY VALE
MRS CAROLYN CUMMING DL
Carolyn lives just outside the town of Buckingham where she and husband Robert have been part of the community for over 40 years. Having worked in garden design, Carolyn has taken a close interest in design matters, championing the cause of local distinctiveness both in the landscape and the built environment. She is an active member of The Buckingham Society and a parish councillor in Maids Moreton.
Carolyn served as High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 2012-13 and has enjoyed her role as a Deputy Lieutenant since 2013.
AIR VICE MARSHAL CHRISTINA REID ELLIOT CB CBE DL
After gaining her degree from Glasgow University, Chris joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1985 as an Air Traffic Control Officer.Â
Over the course of her 35-year career which included a posting to HQ Air Command and appointment as Station Commander at RAF Halton, she retired in the rank of Air Vice Marshal in June 2020. Chris joined the Reserve component the day after completing her full-time service. She was a Trustee of the RAF Sports Federation for eight years and left the Charity after handing over as Chair in February 2020. She joined the RAF Benevolent Fund in April 2020, taking over as CEO
SIR FRANCIS HABGOOD QPM DL
Francis retired as the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police in 2019 after over 32 years in policing. He is now the Independent Chair of the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Boards and has actively supported the county’s response to Covid-19. He lives north of Aylesbury and is married to Nicolette, they have two adult sons.
MRS ALISON PHILLIPS OBE DL
Alison is a former member of HM Diplomatic Service serving at the United Nations in New York and as the UK’s representative at UNESCO in Paris. She was awarded an OBE for services to the FCO.
She has also been a Non-Executive Director of Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the Chairman of the Cancer Care and Haematology Fund, a Council member and Trustee of the University of Buckingham and served as a member of the Thames Valley Police Authority until 2012, and thereafter in a senior advisory role.
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Alison is married to Richard Phillips QC and has a daughter.
HIS HONOUR JUDGE FRANCIS SHERIDAN DL
HHJ Francis Sheridan was appointed DL in 2019
THE HON MRS MILLY SOAMES DL
Camilla Soames (Milly) has lived in Buckinghamshire since 1991. She has been a Patron of the Pace Centre since 2005 and Patron of Heart of Bucks Community Foundation and Milton Keynes Museum since 2017. After her year as High Sherriff ended in 2017 she undertook the role of Chair of BACO (Bucks Association for the Care of Offenders) and is a Trustee of Action 4 Youth. In January 2019 she joined the Council of Buckingham University and is immensely proud to be the current Honorary Colonel of Buckinghamshire’s Army Cadet Force. She has three adult children and lives with her husband Rupert, on a small farm in the Vale of Aylesbury.
MRS MARY TUCKETT JP DL
Born and educated in Buckinghamshire apart from University. Runs the family agricultural business in the Vale of Aylesbury. Other interests include sport and access for young people to sport, especially at grass roots. Served as Chair of National Charity for equestrian sport giving access to riding at all levels from Olympic pathway to recreational riding on borrowed ponies.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL SIMON WILKINSON TD DL
Lt Col Simon Wilkinson is born and bred Bucks, schooled in the County he volunteered to join the Army Reserve at the age of 18 and has spent 40 years as a Reservist including Operational tours. He is Chairman and Trustee of several charities in the County. He is a local estate agent and has 2 daughters
MR CHRIS WILLIAMS DL
Former Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire County Council and Clerk to the Buckinghamshire Lieutenancy. Currently Chairman of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Natural Environment Partnership and Chairman of Corporate Social Responsibility for the Clare Foundation.
CHILTERN
MRS JOANNA BARCLAY DL
Joanna Barclay has lived in the Chilterns for 29 years, having returned from 6 years in Paris. She has 3 children and a growing band of grandchildren.
Accompanying her husband Joe during his busy shrieval year, 2014-15, gave her a deeper understanding of how the county operates at many levels.
Her background is in picture research and, in 2016, she produced a documentary film on Our County at War: The Home Front in Buckinghamshire, 1914-1918. Amongst other things, she is County Organiser for Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust’s Ride + Stride.
MILTON KEYNES
MISS DEBBIE BROCK DL
Debbie was an elected member of Milton Keynes Council for eight years and MK Mayor in 2010/1. She became the first Chairman of the MK Health and Wellbeing Board in 2012 retiring from local politics in 2014. She is married to Peter Geary and they have one school age daughter. A stalwart supporter of many organisations in Milton Keynes including the MK Community Foundation and is Chairman of the MK Cenotaph Trust which established in collaboration with partners, the MK Rose in Campbell Park. She is a bright, excellent communicator, active DL and Vice Chairman of the Buckinghamshire Honours Committee
MRS SARAH CLARKE JP DL
Sarah has lived in Milton Keynes for over 30 years. Together with her husband Paul, she is a Director of an IT and Data Analytics business and sits on the management Board of the MK Biztech Technology Hub. Sarah is a magistrate, a former Chair of the Buckinghamshire Bench and a Trustee of the Magistrates’ Association
MR MARTYN J GRIFFITHS JP DL
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MRS FOLA KOMOLAFE MBE DL
Fola worked in the private and public sector for over thirty years before retiring from Mazars as partner and global lead for international development. She worked in financial services at HSBC, in IBM’s technology and consulting business and spent thirteen years working in international development through NNGO, INGO and Open University. Fola leads Indisys, a consulting and coaching services business, and is the co-founder of Fresh Inspiration, a charity devoted to the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs. A passionate christian minister and business leader, Fola is also Non Executive Director on a number of boards and vice president with MKCF and British Red Cross
DR ANN LIMB DBE DL
A Mancunian by birth, and a Milton Keynesian by adoption, Ann is an educationalist, business leader, charity entrepreneur and philanthropist,. She came to Buckinghamshire in 1986 to take up the post of Principal, Milton Keynes College and has remained here ever since, living with her Buckinghamshire-born wife Maggie in Stony Stratford. Ann holds several business and charity roles both in the county and nationally.
MR JOHN MOFFOOT MBE DL
John Moffoot was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, 2012, and made a Deputy Lieutenant the following year. He lives in Milton Keynes with his wife, Muriel.
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John worked in local government for 44 years before his retirement in 2012. He is a founder trustee of the MK Cenotaph Trust, and a director of Camphill Milton Keynes Communities Ltd and Tools for Self-Reliance MK Ltd, of which he is Chair.
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John is a season ticket holder at Milton Keynes Dons, and a member of Newport Pagnell Methodist Church
MRS FRANCESCA SKELTON DL
After a career in magazine publishing, Francesca managed a local charity in her home town of Milton Keynes, and took on voluntary roles as Chair of MK Community Foundation, and later MK College. A Deputy Lieutenant since 2007, she was High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire 2015/16. She is currently Chair of the Arts and Heritage Alliance, Milton Keynes.
MRS JULIA UPTON MBE DL
Julia is the Chair of MK YMCA, a Trustee of MK Cenotaph Trust and The Stables Theatre. She was High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire 2019 - 2020. Julia has enjoyed two careers in education and as CEO of MK Community Foundation. She was Vice Chair of UK Community Foundation to help develop Community Foundations in the UK, and is passionate about supporting the voluntary sector in its endeavours to create successful and thriving communities
SOUTH BUCKS
THE HON MRS FARNCOMBE DL
Jenefer has had close family connections with Buckinghamshire all her life. Following a former career as a kitchen design specialist she pursued an interest in architectural conservation, property and environmental matters. Jenefer is a Trustee of Bucks Historic Churches Trust and two other small local charities fostering facilities for education and recreation for all age groups in the community. She is also a Patron of the Chiltern Shakespeare Company which performs annually to raise funds for charity
MR ANDREW M SMITH OBE DL
Andrew, who lives in Stoke Poges, is a director of the world-famous Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, home to James Bond. He is a passionate advocate of the UK film industry serving as a Governor of the British Film Institute, a member of the British Film Commission and a member of BAFTA.
Andrew chairs the Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership, is a director of Buckinghamshire Business First and a member of the Buckinghamshire Council’s Growth Board.
WYCOMBE
LORD CARRINGTON DL
Lord Carrington runs his own financial advisory business, the family farming partnership and property management company. He also sits in the House of Lords as a Crossbench peer. In the County he has held the following appointments:-
Council Member of the University of Buckingham 2003 - 2006
Chairman Buckinghamshire Strategic Partnership 2002 – 2008
Chairman Buckinghamshire Branch of The Country Land and Business Owners Association 2002-2005
High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire 2002 – 2003
MR MIKE CLARE DL
Mike resides in Beaconsfield where he was born and is best known as Founder and ex-Chairman/CEO of Dreams Plc.
Mike supports many philanthropic organisations including Outward Bound, The Princes Trust, Child Bereavement UK, Heart of Bucks and The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers. Mike founded his own charity, The Clare Foundation in 2009, which offers support and loans to Buckinghamshire charities to help them become more efficient and effective.
DR SHEENA DYKES BEM DL
Dr Sheena Dykes is the co-founder and chair of Wycombe Homeless Connection, following a career as an NHS consultant psychiatrist, latterly supporting doctors facing training difficulties in the Oxford region.
PROFESSOR RUTH FARWELL CBE DL
Following a career in universities including as Vice Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University, Ruth continues to be involved in education with board and advisory positions and as a trustee and volunteer for local charity BACO