Clare, Countess of Euston

Lady Clare, Countess of Euston, was appointed Lord-Lieutenant by Her Late Majesty The Queen in December 2014. She was born in Derbyshire and brought up in the Scottish borders. After being awarded a Masters degree in Modern History from London University she embarked upon a career in the voluntary sector.

She has served as Vice-Chairman of the Mental Health Foundation and Chairman of the Foundation for People with Learning Difficulties. She is also a past Chairman of St Nicholas Hospice Care in Bury St Edmunds and a past Vice-Chairman of the Suffolk Community Foundation, and she was a Trustee of the Henry Smith Charity for 25 years. She served as High Sheriff of Suffolk in 2004/5 and as The Independent Chair of the Suffolk Strategic Partnership from 2005 to 2010.

Lady Clare and her late husband James, Earl of Euston, have five children and nine grandchildren. She lives at Euston where she is a partner in the family’s farming business and takes a particular interest in breeding Red Poll cattle and Suffolk Punch horses on the Euston estate, where conservation of the countryside for the benefit of future generations lies at the heart of everything.

Roles and Responsibilities

Lord-Lieutenants normally serve until retirement at 75 years of age and are non-political permanent representatives of The Crown. They are responsible for all aspects of visits by members of the Royal Family to the county and represent Her Majesty at various events - where appropriate presenting awards to organisations and individuals on Her Majesty’s behalf. The Lord-Lieutenant advises on honours nominations and accepts suggestions for the attendance at Royal Garden Parties of individuals deserving recognition.

The Lord-Lieutenant also maintains strong connections with local units of Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, Royal Air Force and their associated Cadet Forces and Volunteer Reserve Forces; and with other uniformed organisations, notably the Police, Fire and Ambulance services and voluntary bodies such as the Red Cross, St John’s Ambulance and other local and national organisations that serve local communities.

The role of Lord-Lieutenant has traditionally been associated with the work of magistrates and our current Lord-Lieutenant is a magistrate herself and holds the ancient office of Keeper of the Rolls for Suffolk. She is also chairman of the Suffolk Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace, which recommends the appointment of magistrates in the county.

The Lord-Lieutenant also acts as chairman of the Advisory Committee for the appointment of Tax Commissioners.

The Lord-Lieutenant promotes a spirit of co-operation within the county, supporting charitable and voluntary organisations and taking a central role in the commercial, social and spiritual life of the county.

The Lord-Lieutenant is supported by a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and by a group of Deputy Lieutenants whose number is determined by the size of the population of the county.