Each of the six new Deputy Lieutenants has already contributed significantly to national life, to their local communities – or both. The new appointments bring the total of Deputy-Lieutenants in the West Midlands to 74.
The appointments include:
Mark Heywood: Strategic Education Lead for the Families First Children’s Pathfinder, City of Wolverhampton Council and Department of Education.
Ed James: Co-founder and Director of a Birmingham-based marketing agency and presenter on BBC Radio WM.
Sandra Marcella Samuels OBE: Voluntary and community champion and Co-founder/Director of The Heritage Centre (Wolverhampton) Ltd.
Clive Reeves: Founder and CEO of an independent Birmingham-based public relations consultancy and school governor.
Abbie Vlahakis: Chief Executive Officer of Millennium Point Property Limited and its charitable parent company, Millennium Point Trust
Lisa Webb GM (née Potts): Counsellor and a registered Nurse and Specialist Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor) and former nursery nurse.
The new appointees will support the Lord-Lieutenant - His Majesty The King’s personal representative in the West Midlands - to contribute to the delivery of His Majesty’s primary ambition to be of impactful service to all his citizens and related organisations in the interest of supporting a vibrant, sustainable and cohesive West Midlands region.
Duties include attending on Royalty during official visits to the County, representation at citizenship ceremonies, supporting the armed forces of the Crown particularly the reserve and cadet forces, encouraging charitable and voluntary work and local initiatives to benefit the community, as well as promoting and encouraging nominations for Honours and the King’s Awards for the County of the West Midlands.
The Lord-Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Mr Derrick Anderson CBE, said the appointments reflected the service that each person has given to their communities across the West Midlands, making positive impact and improving prospects for many.
“I am committed to representing His Majesty The King and supporting every citizen and community in the West Midlands County. These appointments will support our work in Wolverhampton, Birmingham and throughout the West Midlands, bringing in their years of experience and dedicated service,” said Mr Anderson.
The West Midlands Lieutenancy comprises Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. It was established in 1974.