A DANBURY woman has been appointed the new Lord-Lieutenant of Essex by Her Majesty the Queen, replacing Lord Petre when he retires in August after 15 years.

Jennifer Tolhurst, a current Deputy Lieutenant, will take over from Lord Petre, who will stand down on August 4 after turning 75, the obligatory retirement age.

Mrs Tolhurst, a former High Sheriff of Essex, who lives in Danbury with her husband Philip, said: “I am extremely honoured to have been appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Essex.

“It will be a tremendous challenge to follow Lord Petre who has given such wonderful service to the County of Essex, but I will do my absolute best to fulfil the role, and represent Her Majesty the Queen in our very special county.”

Mrs Tolhurst, who has three children and seven grandchildren, launched the Danbury and Little Baddow branch of the NSPCC and chaired the Prince’s Youth Business Trust in Essex, while also serving as a Magistrate and Vice Chairman of the Governors of New Hall School.

She remains Vice-President of the Essex Community Foundation, serves on Essex University County, is an assessor for the Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Services and is Vice-Chairman of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee.

Lord Petre, 18th Baron of the Petre family and Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, said: “I have every confidence that Jenny will be a most worthy personal representative to the Queen in this county.

“She has already proved herself many times over as an active and enthusiastic supporter of a large number of our local institutions and is well placed to give encouragement and backing for all that is best about our wonderful County.”