Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Brian Payne, appointed on 1st March 2026.

Brian comes from a Berwickshire family and settled back in the Borders after serving in the Royal Horse Artillery as an officer, and then retraining as a Barrister specialising in criminal prosecution. With board-level experience in the governance of charities, he has also led local trusts and societies and was the President of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club. He organised and implemented the Flag for Berwickshire campaign, which was granted in 2023. He and his wife Joanna, have many interests and are involved in activities across the Lieutenancy.

He is supported by a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and a maximum of 9 Deputy Lieutenants who represent specific areas of the Lieutenancy. They are:

Vice Lord Lieutenant – Harry Frew

Harry Frew was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2015 and as Vice Lord-Lieutenant since 2019. His region is the Lamberton, Mordington and Foulden area of Berwickshire. He is well known as the Managing Director of Cheviot Trees, and he describes himself as a businessman, farmer and horticulturist. He has significant roles in UK and European forestry trade bodies, and is President of the Berwickshire Agricultural Association. 

Mr Tim Culham

Tim was appointed in 2018 and covers the Greenlaw region of the Berwickshire Lieutenancy. With many years of experience as a personal and business financial advisor for a Scottish firm, Tim is also well known about Berwickshire for his former involvement in and Chairmanship of local Field Sports organisations.

Mrs Susan Swan

Sue Swan was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2006. She worked in the voluntary sector for over 20 years, concentrating on recruitment, support and recognition of the contribution which volunteers make to Berwickshire and the wider Borders area. Sue Swan was born in Coldstream, and has lived by Chirnside on her family farm for over 40 years.

Mr Derek Balmbro

Derek Balmbro was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for the Coldstream area in 2025. Born and raised there, he has a long record of service to the community, serving on Coldstream and District Community Council for over 20 years. He has been involved with Coldstream Civic Week for over 40 years, with over 20 years on the organising committee, including the past four 4 years as Chairman of the Presenting Coldstream Association. An engineer by profession, he has spent 35 years in the food industry.

Mr Dermot Jenkinson

Dermot Jenkinson was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2012. His area of the Lieutenancy  is the south-western quarter about Leitholm. With an extensive history as an entrepreneur, he is actively involved in local agricultural and estate management boards, serving as a director for entities like Kames Dairies Limited. 

Mr George Romanes

George Romanes was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2015. He lives in Duns and looks after that area for the Lieutenancy. He started in the Romanes Pharmacy in 1979, and in subsequent years has built a chain of pharmacies in the Borders and East Lothian. Chair of the Duns Golf Club, and of BREST, the trust that runs Duns Swimming Pool, he is also a keen photographer.

Mrs Moira Hughes

Moira was also appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2012. From a farming family in the Lammermuirs, Moira has had a varied career from running her own Beauty Salon in Duns to property development. She has been treasurer of local charitable groups and now looks after the mid-Berwickshire area of the Lieutenancy. She is profoundly deaf.

Mrs Alexandra Richards

Alexandra Richards is the most recently appointed Deputy Lieutenant taking post in 2026. Alexandra has been involved in the Westruther & Gordon community, serving as a community councillor, secretary of the Westruther primary school parent council, and a committee member of the Berwickshire Civic Society. She looks after the Westruther and Gordon end of the Lieutenancy. In her professional life, she works in the provision of specialist insurance.

Currently vacant (Eyemouth & Coldingham)

Currently vacant ( Coburnspath & Abbey St Bathans)

This badge is worn by a Deputy Lieutenant when representing the Lord Lieutenant at an official event.

Deputy Lieutenants are commissioned by the Lord-Lieutenant, subject to confirmation by the First Minister that the King does not disapprove the appointment.

The function of Deputy Lieutenant is to assist in the performance of any public duty performed by the Lord Lieutenant. Also they provide local knowledge for the Lord Lieutenant in a part of the community they know well. The normal retirement age for Deputy Lieutenants is 75. When Deputy Lieutenants are asked to stand in for the Lord Lieutenant, they are representing HM The King.