The man known to thousands as Captain Carter has added another captaincy to his CV after he was sworn in as the new leader of Lonan parish.

Stephen Carter was sworn in by Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney at a ceremony at Government House.

Speaking to the Examiner, Captain Carter said he was ’surprised’ to have been asked to take on the role.

He said to be appointed is a ’very proud moment for any Manxman or Manxwoman’. Adding that he was ’extremely proud’ both for himself and his family.

Captain Carter grew up in Douglas but has lived in Lonan for 44 years. He told the Examiner he spent a lot of time in the parish in his youth both because of having friends in the area and through his involvement in the Eastern Young Farmers .

The Captains of the Parish represent their parishes on Tynwald Hill on the island’s National Day and organise requisition meetings.

Captain Carter explained that while this is usually for general and byelections, it is not restricted to those times.

He said: ’If 12 people in the parish write to me, I am duty bound to call a meeting at a suitable time and place. It could be an election or an extraordinary event such the flooding in Laxey.’

The recent Laxey flooding gave Captain Carter what he described as a ’baptism of fire’.

While he had accepted the role, he had not yet been sworn in when parishioners called for a meeting with MHKs to discuss the flooding.

Captain Carter had to contact Government House to check if he could chair the meeting, due to the circumstance, it was agreed he should chair the meeting.

While looking forward to carrying out the role, Captain Carter said it was ’extremely unlikely’ he’s going to be required to call up a militia to defend the island or to quell a riot in order to ’keep the Queen’s peace’.

Captain Carter took over the role from Jack Faragher, who died at the age of 89 earlier this year having been Captain of the Parish for 23 years.