SIX new Deputy Lieutenants of Kent have been appointed today, each of them honoured for their positive contributions to the County and the Nation.
Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Simon Dean OBE (Tunbridge Wells); Dr Gill Fargher (Medway); Mrs Gail Hall (Maidstone); Mr Gavin McKinnon OBE (Tonbridge); The Very Reverend Dr David Monteith (Canterbury) and Dr Sam Parrett CBE (Tonbridge).
Lt Col (Retd) Simon Dean OBE born and raised in Kent, is the Founder and CEO of Challenger Troop CIC, an award winning social enterprise supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people through an early intervention, uniformed youth provision serving schools and communities. A long serving volunteer with the Kent Army Cadet Force (ACF), he has held senior roles including Deputy Commandant and contributes as a school governor and trustee for youth focused charities.
Simon is also co founder of the Kent Challenger Games, an inclusive Olympic style event for children with disabilities or disadvantages. His earlier career includes service with the Queen’s Regiment, running a printing business, and establishing Kent ACF’s National Outreach Programme and was awarded an OBE in 2016 for services to youth and education.
Dr Gill Fargher has lived and worked in Kent for over 40 years. She was a GP partner in Rochester for 32 years, holding additional roles including HIV medicine, palliative care, reproductive health and health commissioning. Since retirement she has worked in organ donation and holds chair roles both locally and for the southeast region. Gill is a trustee for The French Hospital, Age UK Kent Rivers and The James Caird Society. She is chair of Rochester Cathedral Safeguarding Committee and a member of the Independent Advisory Group for Kent Police in Medway. Gill served as High Sheriff of Kent from 2024-2025.
Mrs Gail Hall has lived in the Weald of Kent for 35 years and is a trustee and vice-chair of the Kent Community Foundation and also of a local village Dementia charity. She is a school governor of Dulwich Cranbrook.
Gail is a Partner in a long-established firm of solicitors in Tonbridge. She previously worked for 15 years for London auction houses after reading History of Art at the Courtauld Institute. She now specialises in advising on inheritance tax, wills, trusts, succession, and mental capacity issues, with a special interest is advising agricultural families.
She is married to a farmer who for the last three years has donated his entire top fruit crop to the Felix Project, the UK’s largest food redistribution charity.
Mr Gavin McKinnon OBE CF has lived in Kent for 20 years. An armed forces veteran, he served in the Ulster Defence Regiment CGC, before joining the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. He held several senior national policing appointments, including at the Home Office, before coming to Kent Police in 2010. Gavin has been Chief Officer of Kent Special Constabulary QAVS since 2012 and established the Kent Volunteer Police Cadets KAVS in 2015. He is a Freeman of the City of London, a Governor of the Royal Humane Society, and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2014 and an OBE in 2023.
The Very Reverend Dr David Monteith became the 40th Dean of Canterbury (post reformation) in 2022. He leads the cathedral’s work and mission in East Kent but also as the oldest cathedral in England with a responsibility to support the archbishop’s role and work across England and as the ‘mother church’ of the Anglican Communion.
David grew up in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland during ‘The Troubles’. He previously served as Dean of Leicester with responsibility to reinter the remains of King Richard III and to position the cathedral at the heart of the city and county in a diverse multi-cultural community. He has interests in the interface with faith, the arts and social justice honed serving in Trafalgar Square at St Martin-in-the-Fields. He has served on several local and national bodies and trusts including as Chair of the College of Deans for the Church of England (2017-25).
Dr Sam Parrett CBE is Group Principal and CEO of Elevare Civic Education Group, leading a large group of schools, colleges and a charity across London and the South East. With over 30 years’ experience, she has consistently championed education as a powerful force for social change. Under her leadership, the Group has received major national honours, including The Queen’s Anniversary Prize, Public Sector Leadership and TES awards. Sam was awarded an OBE in 2016 and a CBE in 2021 for services to education. She serves as a Board Member of Canterbury Christ Church University, is a National Leader of Education, a SEND Ambassador, a Leadership Fellow at St George’s House, Windsor Castle, and an Executive Coach to public sector CEOs. Sam lives in Tonbridge and is passionate about strengthening opportunities for learners and communities across the region.
His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain said: “I am absolutely delighted to be able to welcome these outstanding new Deputy Lieutenants to the Kent Lieutenancy. Their wide breadth of experience will further enhance an already strong team of Deputies who support me in my role as Lord-Lieutenant and act as the eyes and ears for the Lieutenancy throughout this incredibly diverse county.”
Fact File
• The Lieutenancy of Kent consists of the Lord-Lieutenant, Vice Lord- Lieutenant, and a maximum of 70 other Deputy Lieutenants, approximately one per 25,000 people.
• The office dates back to Tudor times and was originally responsible for the County’s local defence and maintenance of order. The role of the Lieutenancy is entirely non-political and unpaid.
• Deputy Lieutenants come from all walks of life and all parts of the County. Their local and specialist knowledge and experience is used to positive effect in key areas ranging from education to youth services, and from the Volunteer Reserve Forces to business and the rural economy.
• Duties include greeting and accompanying Royalty and Heads of State during official visits to the County, the presentation of honours and awards on behalf of the Crown, and participation in Citizenship ceremonies.
• They advise on events potentially warranting Royal visits, on how local people can put forward others suitable for honours and on anniversaries warranting a message from The King. They also advise on how community organisations can gain recognition in The King’s Award for Voluntary Service Scheme and how businesses can apply for The King’s Award for Enterprise.
