The Isle of Man’s new Lieutenant Governor will be sworn in at a ceremony in Castletown next month.

Sir John Lorimer will succeed diplomat Sir Richard Gozney, who has held the post for the past five years.

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 has been working as advisor to the UK Ministry of Defence on the Middle East.

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

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.

The island’s top judge, First Deemster Andrew Corlett, also holds the position of Deputy Lieutenant Governor, and acts on his behalf when required.

He said: ’We are delighted to welcome Sir John to the island. It will be a privilege to swear in the island’s next Lieutenant Governor in such an historic setting.’

The swearing-in ceremony will take place in the old courtroom at Castle Rushen on September 29, a week after the general election.

Sir Richard, whose term of office was extended because the pandemic led to a delay in appointing his successor, performed one of his last duties as governor when he signed the writ for the general election.

The House of Keys was then dissolved.

The First Deemster will swear in Members of the House of Keys on Tuesday September 28 at 11.30am. On the same day at 2.30pm the Speaker will be elected by the House of Keys and any other business conducted.

The House of Keys will sit at 10am on Tuesday, October 12, to elect a new Chief Minister.

The first sitting of Tynwald for the new session will be at 10.30am on Tuesday, October 19.