Deputy Lieutenants support the work of the Lieutenancy and represent the Lord-Lieutenant at various events throughout the county. Having been chosen on the basis of service already given, a Deputy Lieutenant will continue to serve the community both within and outside the framework of the Lieutenancy.
The Lord-Lieutenant, Lady Dannatt, commented:
“I am delighted Her Majesty has confirmed these appointments. Norfolk is very lucky to have so many dedicated Deputy Lieutenants across the county and I am sure these new appointees will carry out their duties with equal distinction in the years ahead.”
Newly-appointed Deputy Lieutenant, the Revd Matthew Hutton was born in Norwich and was brought up on the family farm at Langley which he now manages. He is a retired solicitor and tax adviser, author and lecturer.
Since 2014, Matthew has been a part-time, self-supporting ordained Minister in the Church of England, currently serving at St Barnabas Church, Norwich. Matthew has particular interests in caring for ex-offenders. He is Chair of Trustees of and a Mentor with Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (CCN), which supports ex-offenders as they seek to re-build their lives.
Upon appointment, Matthew said:
“It was a huge surprise, and an enormous honour, as I look forward to finding out what it will involve.”
“Over the last five years I have been increasingly touched by the infinite enormity of the love of God. That sense gives you a love for other people, and especially for those on the margins, like those in and coming out of prison.”
He is also interested in alleviating homelessness as a member of the Advisory Group of St Martins Housing and is a member of the Greater Norwich and Breckland Homelessness Prevention Forum. Matthew is also a Founder Trustee of the national charity Restored; an international Christian alliance committed to see an end to violence against women (VAW).
In 2018/19 he served as Chaplain to High Sheriff Charles Watt (who in setting up the New Life project shares Matthew’s passion for helping ex-offenders). As chaplain Matthew was involved in developing awareness in the County of the Diocese of Norwich’s Bright Map web-based initiative and encouraging the posting of a variety of church and other groups on Bright Map to promote community.
Matthew felt called to St Barnabas Church in the Heigham area of Norwich in the autumn of 2018. As Site and Service Pastor of St Barnabas (within the Mitre Benefice), Matthew now finds himself serving in one of the more deprived areas of the city. He says:
“There is a huge variety of social issues. So I say to God, with both this and the CCN work, ‘I feel completely out of my depth, so You have to equip me to do this.’ ”
The other 10 new Deputy Lieutenants are:
- Dr Rose Barnes, born in Kenya and arrived in Norfolk in 1983, working as a GP in South Norfolk between 1987 and 2017. Following retirement, she is developing a volunteering role with the Norfolk Reading Project in supporting children with their reading skills while also engaging with the St Martins Housing homelessness charity.
- Group Captain Stewart Blackburn MBE, served in the RAF for over 40 years and is currently the Chairman of Veterans Norfolk, Chairman of Costessey and District Royal British Legion and, from 2012 until 2015, was the Vice-Chairman of Norfolk County Royal British Legion. Since retirement, Stewart has worked exclusively in the voluntary sector.
- Mrs Jane Cator, involved in many charitable causes, including Trustee of St Helens of Ranworth PCC and regularly raises funds through various events. She is also a Trustee for the Ranworth Trust, an ambassador for Cancer Research UK, and is part of the Norwich Soup Movement – which feeds homeless people from Norwich Market Place.
- Mr Jake Humphrey, worked with the BBC, then left to co-found the largest independent sports production company. He is a Patron of Break and Trustee of the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation. He has also raised £1m for Children Cancer Charity, CLIC Sargent.
- Sir Norman Lamb, initially trained as a solicitor, he was elected MP for North Norfolk from 2001-2019. He was awarded a Knighthood in 2019 for his service including work on mental health issues. In August 2019 he launched the Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, which aims to ensure equality, justice and human rights in society for those with mental health issues, people on the autism spectrum and those with learning disabilities.
- Lt Col Mark Nicholas MBE, trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before joining the Royal Anglian Regiment. On returning to Norfolk, Mark became Director of the Royal Norfolk Show, and the Founding Director of the Norfolk Skills and Careers Festival for 14-24-year olds. He is Chair of Governors at Langley School and is currently the CEO of the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Appeal in a campaign to raise £12.5m for a new hospice in Norfolk.
- Mr Nicholas Pratt, farmer, landowner and agricultural contractor in Ryston, near Downham Market. He is a Trustee of King’s Lynn Minster and Norfolk Community Foundation, as well as other voluntary roles. He was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk in 2015-16.
- Dr Marian Prinsley, an educational psychologist since 1983, focussing recently on brain injured, life limited and disabled children. She has lived in Norfolk since 1996 and has been a member of Norwich Hebrew Congregation all this time, serving as President from 2015-2018. Marian is passionate about interfaith activities and works hard to further the cause of religious tolerance. Marian was elected Sheriff of Norwich for the year 2019-2020.
- Mrs Philippa Taylor, a partner in a Norfolk farming business in Starston near Harleston. Philippa hosted the Waveney Harries Pony Club for 15 years, as well as being involved with and latterly President of the Harleston Magpies Hockey Club. She is also the local President of St John’s Ambulance.
- Mr Han Yang, qualified as a solicitor in Singapore, Hong Kong and the UK. Before moving to Norfolk he was the General Counsel of Reuters based in Hong Kong. He actively supports the arts in Norfolk. He now sits on the Board of Trustees of the Norwich Theatre Royal and is also involved in fundraising for his local parochial church council and the Norfolk Churches Trust.
Extracts from this article were taken from Network Norfolk, read the original here.