Six new deputy lieutenants have been appointed for the West Midlands.

The region's deputy lieutenants support the West Midlands Lord-Lieutenant Paul Sabapathy CBE and carry out tasks such as promoting awards and commending candidates for invitations to a Royal Garden Party.

They can also suggest suitable enterprises, both voluntary and professional, that might be the subject of a Royal visit and participate in citizenship ceremonies.

Deputy Lieutenants have either served the local community, or reflect a history of services.

The new appointments are David Clarke, managing director of Birmingham-based PR consultancy Clarke Associates; Brendan Connor, chairman of the Centre of Excellence for LowCarbon and Fuel Cell Technology at Loughborough University; Dr Hamid Mughal, director of global manufacturing at Rolls-Royce; Dr Satya Sharma, trustee of the SSMF Trust, at New Cross Hosptial in Wolverhampton; Professor Nigel Thrift, vice-chancellor and president of the University of Warwick; and Kuldip Wouhra, managing director of East End Foods.

Mr Sabapathy said he was delighted the lieutenancy had been able to appoint such a distinguished group of public-spirited and able individuals from different walks of life across the West Midlands.

"They join our existing group of highly committed and hugely capable deputy lieutenants to serve the 2.7 million citizens in the West Midlands," he added.

"They will be helping me as Lord-Lieutenant to represent Her Majesty in the West Midlands to the very highest standards that she expects and demands."

The Lord-Lieutenant is Her Majesty The Queen's representative in the West Midlands and is charged with upholding the dignity of the crown.

He is supported by a vice lord-lieutenant and a number of deputy lieutenants who he appoints from the community of the West Midlands.

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