The recent list of individuals appointed as Deputy Lieutenants of Essex included Colonel (Retd) Roger Burgess OBE, a resident of Thaxted.

Roger retired from the Army in 1997 after a 30 year career serving in The 9th/12th Royal Lancers, now amalgamated into The Royal Lancers. After 5 years in the UK Defence Industry, Roger joined The Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a Queen’s Messenger (Diplomatic Courier) until his final retirement in 2006.

Roger joined Thaxted Branch of The Royal British Legion in 1997 after leaving the Army and transferred to Debden Branch in 2010 where he served as Branch Chairman.

He is currently Chairman of Essex County Royal British Legion, a post he has held for the last two years. During his tenure as Chairman, Essex County have won The Maurice Cup for the last two years running as the most efficient Legion County in UK.

Widowed ten years ago, Roger has a married daughter and two young grand children living in Cutlers Green nearby.