Book cover of Unconquered: The Story of Kent and its Lieutenancy
The first-ever in-depth story of a county lieutenancy from Tudor times to the present day is close to publication. Unconquered: The Story of Kent and its Lieutenancy, is a sumptuously illustrated book about the county, its Lieutenants and their Deputies down the ages. Lord-Lieutenants represent the Monarch in a key role dating back nearly 500 years, linking the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II.
Author David McDine, a recently retired Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, has written the 276-page book after years of painstaking research. He has uncovered a multitude of colourful and exciting stories about a fascinating cast of characters, many of them military leaders responsible for trained bands and militias defending the Garden of England from invasion.
The book is published by The Allan Willett Foundation and printed by Headley Brothers, a long-established family business in Ashford.
The Allan Willett Foundation, founded by Allan Willett, the former Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, was established to help charitable work across the county, and any profit from the sale of the book will go to mainly Kentish and medical causes.
The Lord-Lieutenant pushing the button to start the presses rolling
The Lord-Lieutenant and Viscountess De L’Isle visited the Headley Brothers printers on Monday 10th February, 2104, to see the first pages of the book off the press.
Lord De L’Isle who pushed the button to start the press rolling said: “I am very excited that Kent is the first county in the United Kingdom to produce an in-depth history of the Lieutenancy. I was delighted to visit Headley Brothers and celebrate the company’s great achievements over more than 130 years.
Roger Pitt, Managing Director, said: “As a long-standing member of the Kent business community, Headley Brothers has been delighted to provide its services for the production and distribution of Unconquered, The Story of Kent and its Lieutenancy, an exceptional publication that celebrates our unique county by chronicling the rich history of Kent’s Lieutenancy.”
The Lord-Lieutenant, Roger Pitt – Headley Brothers Managing Director – and David McDine, the author, examining the first pages off the press
“We were honoured to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant and his wife, and all our staff were delighted to see them. I believe it is the first visit in our 133 year history that a Lord-Lieutenant has visited the firm.”
“We are thrilled to be working with the book’s author and feel it only fitting that a book celebrating the fascinating and colourful history of Kent’s Lieutenancy is produced for the people of Kent, by the people of Kent.”
Unconquered: The Story of Kent and its Lieutenancy will be published on 8th April 2014. Copies of the standard edition are priced at £35, five or more copies will cost £30 each, and a luxury slip-cased version is available for an extra £10 a copy. Anyone who would like further details or to pre-order a copy should email sales@headley.co.uk
