Election of Vice President – Jenny Tolhurst

Dear Executive Committee Members

I have a nomination for a Vice President of the Association of Local Councils. It is important that the Vice Presidents will be able to support the work of the EALC and speak well of us in a network working opportunity.

Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Essex is Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst who is Her Majesty the Queen's personal representative in the county. The main duty of the Lord-Lieutenant is to uphold the dignity of the Crown in Essex, including encouraging voluntary service and benevolent organisations, helping to create a spirit of co-operation in the county, supporting business and industry and the social life of Essex. The appointment is non- political and unpaid.

Mrs Tolhurst is the first woman to be appointed Lord-Lieutenant in the county since the office was established in the 1500s. She was appointed in August 2017.

She has been involved with the voluntary sector all her married life. She started the Danbury and Little Baddow fund-raising branch of the NSPCC, chaired the Prince’s Youth Business Trust in Essex, served as a Magistrate and was of Essex in 2005-06. Since then she has worked voluntarily for the Catholic Diocese of Brentwood, been Vice-Chairman of the Governors of New Hall School and has served on the High Sheriffs’ National Council.

Mrs Tolhurst is Vice-President of the Essex Community Foundation, serves on Essex University Court, and is Chairman of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace in Essex. She has championed the county and is Patron, Trustee or President of a number of charitable organisations in Essex.

Another of the Lord-Lieutenant’s duties is to encourage nominations for national honours from all communities in Essex to identify those individuals who would be worthy of receiving an honour. In collaboration with the EALC, a special honours brochure has been sent out to all town and parish councils in Essex. Mrs Tolhurst also encourages nominations for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for outstanding achievement by groups which volunteer their own time to enhance and improve the quality of life and opportunity in local communities. It is the highest award given to volunteer groups in the UK.

The EALC would be honoured for Jennifer Tolhurst to be appointed as a Vice President.

This item will be on the EALC AGM Agenda for approval.

If you wish to talk to me about the nomination – please let me know.

Kind Regards

Charlene Slade AATQB

Chief Executive Officer

EALC 42B High Street, , Essex, CM6 1AH Tel: 01371 879722 Mobile: 07495 915 912 www.ealc.gov.uk