The Reverend prebendary Narinder Tegally, lead chaplain at Royal United Hospitals in Bath, has been appointed as a deputy-lieutenant for Somerset.

She is one of five new deputy-lieutenants who have been appointed to support the county’s lord-lieutenant, the King’s personal representative in Somerset.

Appointment to the office of deputy-lieutenant is recognition of distinguished service to their community, country or county.

Though military in origin, the post no longer holds military significance, but every deputy-lieutenant undertakes to assist the lord-lieutenant in the performance of their duties. This can include representing the lord-lieutenant at formal functions, award ceremonies, citizenship ceremonies or attending Remembrance Day services.

Their local and specialist knowledge and experience is used in key sectors ranging from education to youth services, and from business to the rural economy. deputy-lieutenants are considered the eyes and ears of the lord-lieutenant in their local community.

Narinder said: “I am touched and honoured to be appointed to this position and look forward to serving the communities of Somerset with the lord-lieutenant, Mohammed Saddiq, and his team and representing the RUH and Bath and Wells Diocese as their inter-faith adviser.

Welcoming the appointments of the new deputy-lieutenants, which have been sanctioned by His Majesty The King, Somerset’s lord-lieutenant, Mohammed Saddiq, said: “We are delighted to welcome these five who bring wide and varied experience to the Lieutenancy in Somerset.

“They will do a great deal to encourage, support and celebrate the lives and achievements of people and voluntary organisations in our county – and that is what the lieutenancy is about.”

Before her ordination to the catholic church, Narinder was a registered nurse working in palliative care and mental health. She is a qualified psychodynamic counsellor and intercultural psychotherapist, counselling supervisor and spiritual director.

She is also a trustee for Ammerdown Retreat Centre, which aspires towards hospitality, peace and reconciliation. She leads retreats, quiet days and training on racial justice, diversity, vocation and loss at Ammerdown, Bath and Wells Diocese and nationally.

Furthermore, Narinder is a priest vicar at Wells Cathedral and member of the Steering Group at Wells Cathedral which has oversight to help shape the Cathedral’s approach to the reinterpretation of its monuments with connections to Transatlantic Slavery and a part of the Diocese Lament to Action Group.

You can find out more about the role of the lord-lieutenant of Somerset and his deputies athttps://somersetlieutenancy.com/