Jo Baugh
Jo Baugh
30 January, 2025
News

Beneath the Bearskin: Shropshire's Lord-Lieutenant Anna Turner 'delighted' to talk with Telford's own Garrison Sergeant Major

The Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Mrs Anna Turner, was delighted to talk with Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes OBE MVO DL in front of an audience of 250 people as he shared his experiences of what it is like to organise some of the most important ceremonial events in recent history such as the Queen’s Platinum jubilee, the Queen’s funeral and King Charles III coronation.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Mrs Anna Turner, was delighted to talk with Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes OBE MVO DL about his role in organising some of the most important royal ceremonies in recent history.

The ‘Beneath the Bearskin’ event was hosted by Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury with a proportion of the ticket costs and donations being given to the Army’s national charity – The Army Benevolent Fund.

Shropshire Lad - Andrew 'Vern' Stokes joined the Coldstream Guards in 1988 at the age of 16 (with one maths GCSE) from his hometown in Shropshire. He went on to serve operational tours across the globe, including Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

In 2011, he assumed the post of Academy Sergeant Major Sandhurst in the British Army. He joined the Headquarters in Horse Guards in 2015 as the Garrison Sergeant Major and has been instrumental in National events ever since.

Vern has had the extraordinary task of overseeing ceremonies of a scale and significance not witnessed for 70 years.

During the evening Vern shared with the Lord-Lieutenant and audience snippets about the amazing events he had organised, his life in London, his experiences with the Queen, winning a BAFTA, and how he copes with the stresses on this unique position.

There will be a repeat performance on Friday, 21 February with donations being given to the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum.