A new interactive website launched yesterday (6 November) to highlight the office of the Lord-Lieutenant of Essex and to show how to honour those who make a significant contribution to the county.

The website – https://essex-lieutenancy.org.uk – gives a history of Lord-Lieutenants, including outlining what they do and who held the office in Essex dating back to the 1500s.

These include the first Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, John Petre, the 1st Baron Petre, Henry St John 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, Benjamin Mildmay, Francis Greville the Earl of Warwick and Sir John Ruggles-Brise.

Essex Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, said: “While the office of the Lord-Lieutenant of Essex goes back to the 1500s, it has a very modern role. It represents HM The Queen in the county and reflects the contribution made by the people of Essex, now and in the past.

“By publicising this role through a website, I hope it gives a greater understanding of what the office can achieve and the benefits it can bring to all communities.

“At this time of year particularly, we are remembering those who gave their lives in World War One. There are many ceremonies, services and events up and down the county to mark the 100th Anniversary which the Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants will have the great honour of supporting. By using the website, a record of some of these events can now be brought to a wider audience.”

Significantly, the new website shows how to nominate individuals, community groups and businesses for national honours as well as how to contact the Lord- Lieutenant.

Mrs Tolhurst added: “There are hundreds of people in the county who give spend time and effort to help groups in their communities and there are also many voluntary groups which provide vital support to communities. The national honours and awards system recognises those contributions whether for individuals, voluntary groups or businesses.”