CELEBRITY Noel Edmonds said this week he was ?deeply honoured? by his appointment as a Deputy Lieutenant of Devon.
The former TV celebrity, who has lived at Jacobstowe for 15 years, is one of four new appointments made by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Eric Dancer. It brings the number of deputy lieutenants in Devon to 48 who are selected because of their major contribution to the local community.
Noel?s charity work has included being patron of the Children?s Hospice South West for a number of years, patron of the new Okehampton Hospital and a major fundraiser for the Exeter Leukaemia Fund.
Founder of the Unique Group of companies, involved in television, radio and communication projects including video conferencing, Noel was also very committed to the farming community through the foot and mouth crisis to help prevent contiguous culls.
?I like to think that when it matters I will stand up and speak for a part of the world which I very much regard as my home,? he said. ?I may be an Essex boy but I am very committed to my adopted county. This is an honorary position and one of my duties will be to support the Lord Lieutenant who is the Queen?s representative in Devon. It is a recognition of my commitment to the county of Devon and the people of Devon and I am deeply honoured.?
The office of Lord Lieutenant dates from the reign of Henry VIII in order to strengthen royal control and to have his own representatives in the counties.