East Sussex Lord Lieutenant receives personal award from the Queen

Lord Lieutenant Peter Field has been awarded the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for his service to the crown over the last 12 years.

Peter Field was appointed by The Queen to be Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for East Sussex in August 2008, having served as Her Majesty’s Vice Lord Lieutenant from 2000.

Mr Field, a chartered surveyor by profession, has always used his skills to support and help the single homeless, notably he helped in the introduction of the Foyer Federation to the UK and in the development of several major Sussex Housing Associations including Brighton Housing Trust and Southdown Housing Association, according to his official website.

A magistrate for more than 20 years before becoming Lord Lieutenant, he also chaired the Brighton and Hove Business Community Partnership since its inception in 1994, and for many years served on the South East Leadership Team for the Prince of Wales’ charity Business in the Community - being appointed the Prince of Wales’ Ambassador for the South East in 2003.

For more than 10 years in the 1990s he chaired the City of Brighton and Hove’s Regeneration Partnership which contributed to many of the changes to the culture of the city that are visible today.

According to the Lord Lieutenant’s website, he provides encouragement and support for all sectors of the community.

This includes supporting and encouraging military organisations, the business sector, statutory undertakings, and charitable and voluntary groups.

He sits on the board of several commercial companies in the county and is currently also interested in developing and supporting businesses, youth employment and environmental initiatives in particular.

Mr Field said, “To be honest I feel surprised and extremely honoured. This award is in the personal gift of Her Majesty and is not part of the national honours system, no Lord-Lieutenant would get such an award whilst in office, so it was very unexpected and humbling.

“Margaret, my wife, and I have always loved East Sussex and all of the communities here.

“Sussex people are amazing with the support they give each other and in their community spirit – especially now in this pandemic.

“I retire in August and it has been a total privilege to represent our monarch in such a lovely part of the United Kingdom.”