Air Marshal Christopher Nickols

Air Marshal Christopher Nickols

Honoured for his positive contribution to the County and the Nation, Air Marshal Christopher Nickols CB CBE MA FRAeS has been appointed as a new Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.

Air Marshal Nickols was born in Kent and educated at St Edmund’s School, Canterbury and Downing College, Cambridge, where he read Engineering.  He spent a full career in the Royal Air Force from 1977 to 2012 flying Jaguars and Tornados in Germany and the UK and on Operations over Iraq. He held a wide range of other RAF appointments, including Command of UK Air Forces in the Middle East for Afghanistan and Iraq Operations in 2002/03 and Chief of Defence Intelligence.  On retirement from the RAF in 2012, he became Controller (Chief Executive) of the RAF Benevolent Fund, the leading welfare charity for the RAF family, both serving and veterans.

He holds a number of voluntary positions with other military charities, is a Governor/Trustee of St Edmund’s School, Canterbury and is a Voluntary Steward at Canterbury Cathedral.

 Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, Viscount De L’Isle MBE said: “In appointing Air Marshal Nickols we are further strengthening a team of men and women who share their great experience, in helping me support The Queen and her family throughout the ceremonial county of Kent”.

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 Queen. They also advise on how community organisations can gain recognition in The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Scheme.