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…
