The Berkshire Lieutenancy

The Lord-Lieutenant of Berkshire

Andrew Try Esq.

Andrew Try is the founder and Managing Director of ComXo, which provides virtual personal assistance and other workplace services to large enterprise clients in the City of London; his company employs 110 people in Datchet. A sixth-generation Windsorian, his voluntary work has focused on serving the locality, including as Trustee of the Windsor Festival, the Windsor Learning Partnership Multi-Academy Trust and the Prince Philip Trust Fund; member of the board of the Friends of St George’s Chapel; chair of the Royal Windsor Rose and Horticultural Society; and governor of Clewer Green Primary School and Papplewick School, Ascot. 

He has two children and an adult stepson and lives in Windsor with their mother, Vicky. 

He was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2019 and took on the role of Lord-Lieutenant on 23 October 2023.

The Vice Lord-Lieutenant

Graham Barker Esq. MStJ DL

Graham Barker has been involved with a variety of local charities and organisations in Berkshire. 

He is Vice President of the Berkshire Community Foundation, is a Trustee of The Inside Out Trust (formerly known as the Berkshire Care Trust) which supports ex-offenders. Mr Barker is also a Trustee of the Berkshire Historic Churches Trust. He is Deputy Chairman of the Berkshire County Priory Group of the Order of St John and Chairman of the Newbury Spring Festival. 

In April 2024, Graham was appointed an Honorary Colonel for the Royal County of Berkshire Army Cadet Force. Graham is a former High Sheriff of the County 2018 – 2019.  He was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2019 and Vice Lord-Lieutenant in 2020.

The Deputy Lieutenants

The Lord-Lieutenant is supported in his work by a team of Deputy Lieutenants (DLs) across the county. The size of the population of Berkshire determines the maximum number of DLs that the Lord-Lieutenant may appoint. 

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.

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 through the county.

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 Berkshire. They play a particularly important ceremonial role at the many Citizenship Ceremonies held in Berkshire’s six Unitary Authority areas.  DLs 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 King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Deputy Lieutenants may wear uniform or a badge of office when they are representing the Lord-Lieutenant.

Deputy Lieutenants retire at the age of 75 and then join a supplementary list, but carry out no further duties as DLs.

Click on the gallery photos below to find out more about the DLs for the Royal County of Berkshire.

The Clerk and Lieutenancy Officer

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Susan Halliwell is the Clerk to the Lieutenancy and is also Chief Executive of Bracknell Forest Council, having been appointed in June 2022. She has a long and experienced work history in local government, having worked at both Oxfordshire and West Berkshire Councils in various roles since 2004.
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Marina Sawyer was appointed as Lieutenancy Officer in June 2013. She provides full administrative support to the Lord-Lieutenant. In particular she assists the Lord-Lieutenant in planning royal visits. She also coordinates the work of other members of the Lieutenancy.

Marina is the first point of contact with the Lord-Lieutenant and other members of the Lieutenancy for any organisations or members of the public who may wish to invite the Lord-Lieutenant to visit them, to take advice on Royal visits or to enquire about the many other activities and events in which the Lieutenancy is involved.