ARCHAEOLOGIST Phil Harding has been appointed as one of four new deputy lieutenants in the county.

Dr Harding, a familiar face from the TV programme Time Team, is also president of the Nautical Archaeology Society, patron of Devizes Museum and of Crofton Pumping Station.

The appointments have been made by the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire Sarah Troughton.

Wiltshire College chairman Helen Birchenough has also been appointed as deputy lieutenant as has the Honourable Richard Arundell who runs the family farming estate at Wardour near Tisbury and Olympic Champion David Hemery, CBE.

Mrs Birchenough is chairman of the Salisbury International Arts Festival, trustee of Wiltshire Community Foundation and chairman of the ‘One Degree More’ educational panel.

She is also a former Trustee of Salisbury Playhouse, having been the chairman from 2008-2011, a former governor of Chafyn Grove School and a parish councillor.

Mr Arundell who served with B Squadron Royal Wessex Yeomanry is a former magistrate, chairman of governors of Wardour Primary School and is chairman of two local charities.

Dr Hemery, the world record holder in the 400m hurdles served two terms as president of UK Athletics and three as vice chairman of the British Olympic Association.

He founded the charity 21st Century Legacy and co-authored the Be the Best you can Be programme.

The Lord-Lieutenant is Her Majesty The Queen’s representative in the county.

The Lord-Lieutenant’s main duty is to represent the Queen in the county and to uphold the dignity of the Crown.  

Deputy Lieutenants are commissioned by the Lord-Lieutenant.Their role is to support and promote the Lieutenancy in the county and to represent the Lord-Lieutenant, performing a range of public duties when required.  

The maximum establishment of DLs in Wiltshire is 36, which is based on the county’s population.  
                                                                   
Deputy Lieutenants are widely representative of the county’s life and are often well known in the locality for their work in the local community or nationally, or for their distinguished service in other fields. This could be through public life, the uniformed services, charitable or volunteering activities.

They serve until they are 75 years of age and support the Lord-Lieutenant by a number of ways such as attending Citizenship Ceremonies held across the county, acting as ‘eyes and ears’ in their area to acquaint the Lord-Lieutenant of anything significant, commending worthy candidates for invitation to a Royal Garden Party and suggesting suitable enterprises, both professional and voluntary, which might be the subject of a Royal visit.