Lieutenancy of South Yorkshire

Deputy Lieutenants

The Office of Deputy Lieutenant is almost as old as that of the Lieutenancy. In the early years of absentee Lord-Lieutenants, they performed all his military duties. They became so powerful that they were snubbed by the Privy Council who appointed them.

However, the Crown continued to use them and. Although their appointments officially lapsed with that of the Lord-Lieutenant, their duties continued. The power of appointing them was gradually transferred to the Lord-Lieutenant. Deputy Lieutenants were always appointed to act only within one county.

The first Lady Lord-Lieutenant was Jean Roberts, who was appointed Lord Provost of Glasgow in 1960. As the city's first female Lord Provost, she was unique in Scotland until the 1980s. She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1962. This is the female equivalent of a knighthood.

The appointment of Deputy Lieutenants

Deputy Lieutenants are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant at their discretion. It's subject only to His Majesty agreeing to the granting of the commission. Under the terms of the Lieutenancies Act 1997, a person may be appointed a Deputy Lieutenant if:

  • he/she is shown to have rendered appropriate service. Such service includes service as a member of, or in a civil capacity in connection with, the Armed Forces, and other suitable public service
     
  • he/she has a place of residence in, or within seven miles from the boundary of, the relevant county or area. In choosing Deputy Lieutenants, Lord-Lieutenant should be ready to interpret widely 'other suitable public service'. These can be taken into account. The aim is that, within each county or area, the Deputy Lieutenants should be widely representative of it's life. This includes in social range, gender, ethnic mix and service to the community. 

The appointment isn't terminated when the Lord-Lieutenant, who made the appointment, ceases to be Lord-Lieutenant. It lapses if the residence qualification ceases to be fulfilled. The post nominal letters are 'DL'.

Code of conduct 

This is the code of conduct our Deputy Lieutenants are expected to follow.  

Deputy Lieutenants of South Yorkshire