From a small farm in Kenya to the King’s representative for the county
NEW LORD-LIEUTENANT VERONICA PICKERING IS THE FIRST FEMALE AND FIRST WOMAN OF COLOUR TO HOLD THE ROLE
THE King’s new personal representative in Nottinghamshire has spoken about her journey from a small farm in Kenya to becoming the county’s top civic dignitary.
Veronica Pickering, officially installed as Nottinghamshire’s latest Lord-lieutenant on March 2, says she will bring something different to the centuries-old role as the first woman and the first person of colour to hold it.
Mrs Pickering’s journey is one which she has “survived” at times, having been one of very few black pupils during her school years in Mansfield. Yet it is a life that has made Nottinghamshire’s Lord-lieutenant a “resilient” person and given her a different perspective to bring to the position.
Speaking to the Post at County Hall in West Bridgford, Mrs Pickering said: “I am a different Lord-lieutenant, so it’s going to be different. I’m expecting to focus a lot more – because of my history and background – on really trying to reach those communities that have not really understood what the lieutenancy is.”
A Lord-lieutenant is a voluntary position which sees the office-holder acting as the monarch’s personal representative in their area. As well as being responsible for royal visits, the Lord-lieutenant administers awards for those making a special contribution to their area and often represents it at events.
The Lord-lieutenant of Nottinghamshire is a role that has been filled for the last 12 years by Sir John Peace, who followed the current law on the lieutenancy role by retiring on his 75th birthday. Other previous occupants have included former Boots chairman Gordon Hobday and the Second World War Majorgeneral Sir Robert Laycock.
Despite the history of the role, Mrs Pickering said some areas of Nottinghamshire need more representation. “We are now much better recognised, I think, in the city. We need to also go further north, to places like Bassetlaw where I used to live,” she said. “I think these places are fairly remote in some respects, but it’d be fantastic to be able to reach more of those who are doing work out in those remote places.
“I used to live just outside Mansfield, so I know that really well. It’s places that I think other people don’t see or hear from, and voices that you don’t hear from and cultures and communities you don’t hear from. I’m really hoping that in my time as Lord-lieutenant, that will be an improvement.”
Mrs Pickering is 61 and has two adult children – Joshua and Rosea – with the Nottinghamshireborn artist Roy Pickering. She says she is a “proud” Kenyan and still visits her country of birth every year.
Speaking about her move to the
UK when she was around seven years old, Mrs Pickering said: “I probably survived a period of very difficult unrest and fairly tricky sort of politics. I think I’m fairly resilient, which is probably what most people would say having got to this point in your life.
“You’ve seen quite a lot and you’ve survived quite a lot. I thought of it as a difficult transition at the time. [There were] not many black families in the school that I attended.
“My sister and I were good at something, we were good athletes and we were very creative. I think being good at something and being rewarded for being good at something is what helped us and it gave me a bit more confidence to do things I do.
“It really motivates me, because I didn’t have all the privileges that people think you have because you’re a Lordlieutenant... being the first woman I think is really important.
“I won’t say that it isn’t, because I think it is. Being the first person of colour is also equally important. I think all of those firsts are ways of breaking down barriers, of being a positive role model, of being somebody that others hopefully feel that they can follow.”
Mrs Pickering’s career in Nottinghamshire first saw her work as a residential social worker at a children’s home in Mansfield. She was also an adviser in the court system and had other social work roles.
Mrs Pickering continues to work as a coach and will officially be handing over the reins of the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire role to Nick Rubins on March 28. For her current position, one of the Lordlieutenant’s passions will be promoting the environment.
Mrs Pickering, who now lives in Lambley, said: “I grew up on a small farm in Kenya and that connection with land and nature has always been part of my life. I’ve always lived in a rural setting.
“Even when I lived in the east end of London, I lived on the edge of Epping Forest so that we could walk across to the forest. When I moved back to Nottinghamshire, we were right next to Sherwood Forest.
“Now I live in Lambley, I’m surrounded by fields.”
In terms of one of the Lord-lieutenant’s key responsibilities, Mrs Pickering says Nottinghamshire will be no stranger to a royal visit.
The Lord-lieutenant, who is supported by a team of dozens of voluntary Deputy Lieutenants, added: “We’ll put in as many bids as we can. We want Nottinghamshire to be seen. This is us promoting our county and our city. If we’ve got wonderful things going on, we’ll say to all the royals, ‘we’ve got these amazing people, please come and visit.’”