Stuart Birkett from Berwick had been appointed the new Vice Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland 

The role will see him support and assist Dr Caroline Pryer in her position as Lord-Lieutenant - the King’s official representative for the county.  

Stuart has lived in Berwick-upon-Tweed for 35 years after growing up near Alnwick. A former RNLI crewmember, non-executive director and charity trustee, he is currently an active volunteer for a number of local organisations and was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2010. 

Following a six-year career in the construction industry, Stuart moved to a job at the Tweeddale Press Group in 1992. After the business was acquired by Johnston Press PLC, he became Managing Director in 2002. 

In 2006 he started a seven-year stint at the helm of the Johnston Press subsidiary, Northeast Press, based in Sunderland and then had two years as the Johnston Press MD of Scotland, being responsible for 50 daily and weekly newspapers, including The Scotsman and the Evening News. 

Stuart joined Trinity Mirror in 2014 to head up NCJ Media in Newcastle – publishers of The Journal, Chronicle and Sunday Sun, before leaving to set up his own management consultancy business in 2017. 

He said: “I am deeply honoured by this appointment and very much look forward to doing all I can to support the Lord Lieutenant in her work across the county.” 

“I appreciate the wonderful vitality of the residents of Northumberland and look forward to celebrating their achievements in the years to come. “ 

Dr Caroline Pryer added: 

"I am greatly looking forward to working with Stuart whose passion for Northumberland and its communities is evident from his extensive and varied work spanning many years. 

“He is already actively involved as a volunteer in several aspects of life in Northumberland and I am confident he will be a great support to me and a significant asset to the Lieutenancy and the county.” 

The Lord-Lieutenant is appointed by His Majesty The King and has a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants to help with duties. 

Apart from acting as The King’s representative for the region and covering Royal visits, the Lord-Lieutenant has a community role to support initiatives that help the region and to recognise people and organisations that help others.  

The Lieutenancy also supports the Honours system and engages with many partners to promote and encourage nominations to acknowledge the many wonderful contributions so many people make. These include The King’s Award for Voluntary Service and British Empire Medals.