FOUR new deputy lieutenants have been appointed to assist and support the Lord-Lieutenant as King Charles III’s representative in Somerset.

The new deputy Lieutenants are Mary Ellis, Nickie Gething, Alastair Martin, and Linda Nash.

Mary Ellis JP grew up in Wells, as her father was a member of the Vicars Choral at Wells Cathedral. She has moved to various places in Somerset but is now living back in her home city.

After leaving school, Mary worked as a civil servant, becoming a director of a family business and then trained as a riding instructor.

In 2008 Mary was appointed a Justice of the Peace. Her public service as a magistrate now takes her to Criminal and Family courts throughout the Avon and Somerset Bench.

Nickie Gething was born in Cambridge and has lived near Bruton in Somerset for 22 years.

After completing a BA in Political Science at Columbia University, New York, she worked at Financial News Network (now CNBC) as an associate producer and remained in the US for eight years.

On her return to England from the US, Nickie worked as a TV journalist for Worldwide Television News (now Associated Press Television News).

She volunteered at The Balsam Centre in Wincanton, Somerset, helping to raise funds and assist with the running of their youth club programme.

Born into a farming family, Alastair Martin CVO attended the Blue School in Wells and then, after going to college at Cirencester, he qualified as a chartered surveyor, before moving back to Wells.

He practiced as a rural chartered surveyor, based in Wells, for almost 30 years where his firm was successively styled as King Miles, Alder King, Dreweatt Neate and then Carter Jonas.

In 2013 he left his firm to run the Duchy of Cornwall and then with the accession of His Majesty King Charles to the Crown, Alastair followed in 2024 to run the Duchy of Lancaster.

Linda Nash was born in South London and trained as a professional singer and teacher.

A desire to contribute to community life led her to chair the local branch of the National Childbirth Trust and serve as a Parish Councillor.

She chaired major organisations, including Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Knightstone Housing, and LiveWest Ltd.

Nationally, she served as lay trustee and audit chair at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and chaired the NHS National Advisory Panel for Foundation Trust Governors.

Commenting on her appointment, Mary Ellis said today: “It is a real honour to be appointed a deputy lieutenant in Somerset. I am looking forward to serving the entire county, in particular the Wells area where I grew up and have such a strong connection.”

Nickie Gething echoed those sentiments, adding: “I feel privileged to have been given this opportunity.”

Alastair Martin said: “I will be pleased to be of some assistance to the Lord-Lieutenant, particular in the context of rural community and sustainability issues.”

Linda Nash said: “It’s a real honour and I’m really looking forward to supporting and celebrating the incredible achievements of our wonderful community.”