TWO of the six new Deputy Lieutenants of Devon created last week hail from West Devon.

The deputy lieutenants are given commissions by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Eric Dancer, and are available to stand in for duties for the Lord Lieutenant.

Mr Philip Debell Tuckett, from Milton Abbot and Major General Nicholas Francis Vaux, from Yelverton, will join the 42 who are currently active in Devon.

Mr Tuckett said it was a ?great honour? to be appointed to lieutenancy.

Major General Vaux said: ?It was certainly a surprise and I was pleased to be chosen. It is rather nice to be able to contribute and do a few things on behalf of Devon.?

Mr Tuckett is a landowner and farmer who has served in senior positions in the Devon branch of the Country Landowners Association.

Major General Vaux had a distinguished military career after joining the Royal Marines in the 1950s.

He is currently county president of the Royal British Legion in Devon.

Judy Grainger, assistant clerk to the lieutenancy at County Hall said if the Lord Lieutenant was unavailable, he may ask his vice lord-lieutenant or one of the deputies to stand in for him.

?Although there is no practical duty falling upon deputy lieutenants, the Lord Lieutenant may, from time to time, call upon them to perform certain duties which, although not onerous, they have given their assurances to support,? she said.

The office of Lord Lieutenant dates from the time of Henry VIII, when the King created the role to strengthen royal control and have his own representatives in the counties.

Originally one of the main duties of these officers was to muster local fighting forces when required, but today the office is that of the sovereign?s personal representative. Any appointment still has to be approved by the Queen.