The new Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod and Serjeant at Arms of the House of Lords – commonly known as Black Rod – has been appointed. Lieutenant General David Leakey, CMG, CBE succeeds Lt Gen. Sir Freddie Viggers who retired because of ill health. General Leakey takes up the appointment on 1 February.
On Tuesday, some parliamentarians may have been surprised when the Commons were summoned to the Lords not by Black Rod but by his deputy, the Yeoman Usher, Colonel E. Lloyd-Jukes. The reason was that Black Rod was taken seriously ill at the beginning of the week and his deputy had to stand in at the…
The successor to Sir Michael Willcocks as Black Rod was announced last week. Sir Michael finishes his term of office next May and will be succeeded by Lt-Gen. Sir Freddie Viggers. The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod and Serjeant at Arms of the House of Lords – to use his full title – is best known…
The House of Lords authorities have agreed to recruit an experienced facilities Director to oversee all the more practical aspects of running the House. Up until now this task has been carried out by Black Rod otherwise known as Gentleman Usher, Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and Serjeant at Arms. This post goes back…
