A BLACKBURN businessman has told of his ‘great honour’ at being made a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire.

Kamruddin Kothia is one of six new Deputy Lieutenants appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant of Lancashire to assist him in representing The Queen.

Lord Shuttleworth also selected Bill Beaumont and David Cam from Lytham, Carole Cochrane, from Hesketh Bank, Diane Duke, from Lancaster, and Robert Webb, from Carnforth.

Mr Kothia, who is managing director of eBusiness UK Ltd, based at Capricorn Park, in Blakewater Road, is also chairman of governors at Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School.

He said: “It’s a great honour and I’m delighted to be appointed.

“I guess I have been involved in quite a bit of community work in the recent past, so I guess it is because of that.”

The new deputies join around 50 others across the county.

The Office of Lord-Lieutenant dates back to the reign of Henry VIII, when the holder was responsible for the maint-enance of order and for military purposes relating to local defence.

Lord-Lieutenants are Her Majesty’s personal representative in a county, or area.

Their prime duty is to uphold the dignity of the Crown, through functions such as arranging visits by members of the Royal family and escorting Royal visitors, presenting medals and awards like The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, on behalf of Her Majesty, and participating in civic, voluntary and social activities.

They also have to liaise with local units of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, Royal Air Force, and their associated cadet forces, and lead the local magistracy by chairing the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace.

Deputy Lieutenants assist the Lord-Lieutenant in carrying out these public duties.