On Saturday 18 April at 3.00 pm, the Cathedral will host a special service to honour the retirement of Clare, Countess of Euston CVO, and to welcome the appointment of Mark Pendlington DL, as Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk.

Lady Euston has held the role of Lord-Lieutenant of Suffolk since 2014 and is the British monarch’s personal representative in the county. She has dedicated her career to supporting some of Suffolk’s most vulnerable people and has held leadership roles across the county’s most important charitable organisations, including the Suffolk Community Foundation, St Nicholas Hospice and Age Concern Suffolk. Beyond her charitable work, chaired the Suffolk Strategic Partnership Board and led the Suffolk Agricultural Association.

Mark Pendlington, DL, has been appointed by His Majesty King Charles III to the role of Lord-Lieutenant following Lady Clare’s retirement. He has held numerous roles in the county, including Senior Non-Executive Member of Chapter at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, pro-chancellor of the University of Suffolk and patron of Bury Drop-In as well as Chair of the Suffolk Business Board, a trustee of the British Racing School, a trustee of Gainsborough’s House and as a fellow of the Royal Countryside Fund.

Mark Pendlington said, “I am deeply honoured to be appointed to serve His Majesty The King, and the opportunity it offers to recognise and support the work of so many communities, individuals and organisations that make Suffolk such a wonderful county. It is a very special privilege to succeed Clare, Countess of Euston CVO, who has given such outstanding service to the late Queen, The King and to Suffolk. Her constant presence has both reassured and inspired us during many momentous moments in the life of our county and country. We all feel such gratitude and delight that her exemplary service was honoured by The King in the Birthday Honours last year.”

As well as honouring the retirement of Clare, Countess of Euston CVO, and welcoming Mark Pendlington as HM Lord-Lieutenant, the service will be a real celebration of Suffolk. It will include music by Benjamin Britten, a performance of the Lowestoft anthem by the Lowestoft Longshoremen, the Suffolk Prayer by Ronald Blythe, and poems and readings that reflect upon our great and diverse County and its people.

The Very Reverend Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, said, “The Lieutenancy stands not only as the tangible representation of the Crown in Suffolk, it reflects also the values shared at the coronation: servanthood, community, selflessness. For the past eleven years, Lady Clare, has exemplified these values in her service of our county. As she retires from her office, we give thanks for her work, how she has brought her deep faith, positive outlook and quiet pastoral care to make our county a wonderful place in which to live, work and serve. There can be few others who could match her deep knowledge and love of the landscape, the people, the nature and the history of Suffolk and she will be greatly missed, but we look forward to the work we will do with Mark as he steps into this role.”