Date set for Lieutenant Governor to be sworn in

Saturday 08 January 2022

Guernsey's new Lieutenant Governor will be sworn in on Tuesday 15 February, in a ceremony planned to be held at St James.

Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell CB, CBE will be sworn in before the island's full Royal Court, invited guests and some members of the public.

Lieutenant General Cripwell has been the Lieutenant Governor designate since Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder left the island at the end of November, following his extended time in post. 

Pictured: Vice Admiral Sir Ian Corder, Lady Corder and Milo left the island before Christmas. 

Like his predecessors, the Lieutenant Governor designate comes from a long and distinguished military career. He had been in the Royal Engineers since 1982, and spent part of his early career in Hong Kong, Germany and Zimbabwe. He went on to command a company at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst,and was Commander Engineers in NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

He served on operations in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and most of the Middle East. As a Brigadier he served as an Assistant Chief of Staff at the Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood. On promotion to Major General he was appointed the Administrator [Governor] of the Sovereign Base Areas and Commander of British Forces in Cyprus, and was posted as the Defence Attaché in Washington before being appointed Deputy Commander Operation Resolute Support, the NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist coalition forces in Afghanistan. His final military posting is in Turkey where he is Deputy Commander Allied Land Command, the standing headquarters for NATO land forces.

Lieutenant Governor designate Cripwell will be the first Royal Engineer Officer to take on the role since Lieutenant General Sir Philip Neame VC, who held the appointment from 1945-53.

When he moves to the island next month, Lieutenant General Cripwell will be a accompanied by his wife, Mrs Louise Gripwell. The couple have a son and a daugher. 

Pictured: The swearing in ceremony will be held at St James.

The ceremony to swear him in will be the focal point of events to welcome them to the island. That will be held at 10:45 on Tuesday 15 February at St James Concert Hall.

A spokesperson for Government House said the plans will remain flexible to take into account any covid measures at the time.

"Planning for the occasion is well underway, although the eventual scale and format may be modified to reflect the public health situation and associated guidance at the time."

Only invited guests with tickets will be able to attend the swearing in ceremony. Those tickets will be issued shortly, while a few will be kept for members of the public who wish to attend. Requests for the public tickets should be made via the Bailiff's Chambers.

Pictured top: Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell CB, CBE.