06 Dec Profiled: Lord Lieutenant of Essex – John Petre, 18th Baron Petre
John Patrick Lionel Petre, 18th Baron Petre is a British peer and landowner who is the currently appointed Lord Lieutenant of Essex, succeeding Robin Henry Charles Neville, 10th Baron Braybrooke in October 2002. He is the 18th Baron of the Petre family, an old recusant family. Lord Petre was born on 4 August 1942.
Lord Petre lives near Chelmsford. His family estate is at Ingatestone Hall where his son and heir apparent, Dominic, and his family live.
Petre was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2016 Birthday Honours.
About the role:
The title of Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch’s personal representatives in the United Kingdom. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post honorarily.
The Chairman of the County Council works very closely with the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, particularly in respect of royal visits and citizenship ceremonies.
Lord-Lieutenants are the monarch’s representatives in their lieutenancy. It is their foremost duty to uphold the dignity of the Crown, and in so doing they seek to promote a spirit of co-operation and good atmosphere by the time they give to voluntary and benevolent organisations and by the interest they take in the business and social life of their counties.
The modern responsibilities of Lord-Lieutenants include arranging visits by members of the Royal Family and escorting Royal visitors, presenting medals and awards on behalf of the Sovereign, leading the local magistracy as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace; and Chairing the local Advisory Committee for the Appointment of the General Commissioners of Income Tax, a tribunal which hears appeals against decisions made by the HM Revenue and Customs on a variety of different tax related matters.
