The new Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man was sworn in at Castle Rushen yesterday (Wednesday).

Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer, who was appointed in July to succeed Sir Richard Gozney, has had a distinguished career in the British Army.

Sir John arrived in the island on Monday with his wife, Lady Philippa.

He was sworn in at Castle Rushen yesterday, marking a return of the ceremony to Castletown, the island’s ancient capital, in the newly refurbished courtroom.

The First Deemster, Andrew Corlett, administered the oath of allegiance and the oath of office, formally appointing Sir John as the island’s Lieutenant Governor.

He will be the 31st Lieutenant Governor and will be the Queen’s personal representative and ’impartial adviser’ on the island until 2026.

Sir John said: ’It’s wonderful to finally be here in the Isle of Man.

’Philippa and I are very much looking forward to being able to play our part in the community and to promote the interests of this wonderful island.’

While the role is mainly ceremonial and a figurehead these days, it can be constitutionally important.

Sir Richard had to declare the state of emergency at the beginning of the Covid crisis last year.

His term of office was also extended because the pandemic led to a delay in appointing his successor.

Sir John, a father-of-three, served in the British Army for nearly 40 years and completed tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Most recently, he completed a three-year tour as the Defence Senior Adviser to the Middle East and North Africa at the Ministry of Defence.

Sir John is a highly decorated Army veteran.

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1997 Birthday Honours and was appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 2008 for service in Afghanistan the previous year.

He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2016 Birthday Honours and was granted permission to wear the United States’ Legion of Merit in the Degree of Officer, awarded to him ’in recognition of meritorious, gallant and distinguished services during coalition operations in Afghanistan’, in the April 2017.

The island’s Lieutenant Governor is officially appointed by The Queen as the representative of the Crown in the island.