The new Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire has been appointed by His Majesty The King, with Professor Gurch Randhawa DL succeeding Chris Sharwood-Smith MBE DL in the role.
Appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2017, Professor Randhawa has a career spanning 30 years, with extensive experience in public health, community engagement and leadership within Bedfordshire and beyond.
The role supports the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Mrs Susan Lousada, who is His Majesty The King’s representative in the County, helping to foster good relations and co-operation between all kinds of organisations in every part of Bedfordshire.
As professor of diversity in public health and director of the Institute for Health & Wellbeing Research at the University of Bedfordshire, Professor Randhawa also currently serves as a non-executive director of Forestry England and as a non-executive member of NHS Central East Integrated Care Board.
Alongside his professional roles, he is committed to community service, and is an ambassador for Keech Hospice, a patron of Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity, and has been a longstanding volunteer at Luton Sikh Soup Kitchen.
Announcing the appointment, the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Susan Lousada, said: “I am delighted to welcome Gurch, who knows our county and communities so well, to this important role.
“His background with the University of Bedfordshire, which has supported a range of community-based health projects, is particularly valuable to the Lieutenancy, which promotes and celebrates the contribution of our communities in tackling societal challenges.
“I am very grateful to Chris Sharwood-Smith MBE DL for serving in this role throughout the historic period following the change of Monarch in 2022. Chris will continue to be a valuable member of our Bedfordshire team.”
