Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer has been appointed as the next Lieutenant Governor of the island.

Sir John, who will succeed Sir Richard Gozney, has just completed a three-year tour as the defence senior adviser Middle East and North Africa at the Ministry of Defence.

He has served in the British Army for 39 years with a career that has included tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Educated at Cambridge, Sir John is married with three sons.

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Prior to his recent role as the principal adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief of the Defence Staff on the Middle East, Sir John was Chief of Joint Operations, commanding all of the UK’s worldwide operations, including those with NATO and the UN.

The 58-year-old said: ’It is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the island and its community.

’My wife, Philippa, and I are very much looking forward to moving to and making our home on the island, as well as playing an active part in Manx life.’

These days the governor’s role is mostly ceremonial.

However, at the start of the pandemic, Sir Richard had to officially call the state of emergency which allowed the government to take extraordinary powers.

Sir Richard’s term of office was extended because the pandemic meant the recruitment process was delayed.

The governor is officially appointed by the Queen as the representative of the Crown in the Isle of Man.

However, the chief minister, the president of Tynwald and the first deemster interview candidates before a decision is made.

Arrangements for Sir John’s swearing in ceremony at Castle Rushen will be announced later this summer.