Kent Messenger Group President and Deputy Lieutenant Edwin Boorman talks to Allan Willett about the highlights since he took over as Lord Lieutenant in 2002 and the future he sees for Kent.

**********************************

WHAT have been the highlights of your years in office?

"The introduction of a very popular and successful annual Civic Service rotating between Canterbury and Rochester Cathedrals and All Saints', Maidstone. It enables us to thank the people who serve Kent and make this County operate and run the way it does.

"Each year a theme is chosen and successes have included the Year of Victories commemorations in 2005 and this year's Celebration of Youth Achievement, which at the request of the youth organisations will be repeated in 2009.

"Next year our main theme will be the 100th anniversary of the Territorial Army, an event we view with enormous importance as an opportunity to celebrate the valuable contribution all Kent's reservists have made and are making today, including frontline operational service.

"We will continue special visits to Kent's varied communities such as those we have made to the Village of the Year and to Gravesham's Sikh community. And we will go on encouraging volunteering because Kent's wonderful army of volunteers is the backbone of our successful communities.

"Perhaps uniquely, with no political or other axes to grind, the Lieutenancy is able to bring all the different organisations and interests together – for the good of Kent."

What if his eventual successor is unable to fund activities like these?

"I'm not prepared to discuss the private cost to me of running the Lieutenancy office. All I would say is that although my successor will no doubt have different priorities some things such as the civic service, the themed events and celebration of our communities at the local level will go on – if he or she wishes.

"The Trustees of my Foundation have agreed to continue funding them at a cost of about £50,000 a year, so my successor won't have to assume all of those costs."

How do you see Kent's future?

"It's for the people of our county democratically represented by KCC, Medway and their local councils to decide where they want to go.

"I believe that Kent can either become a soulless corridor between London and the new Europe, or it can continue to play a part as it has done in the history of our country – a role built around its communities.

"We are fortunate in Kent in that we don't have a large city in the middle – as many counties do – with the rest just a hinterland around that.

"We do, however, live alongside the great world city of London. That is a bit like sharing a tent with an elephant. It can be a very nice elephant, but if it rolls over in the middle of the night it can squash you!

"What we need to ensure is that our county retains its soul built around our wonderful communities. That's what I believe must survive."

Although you have said that Kent has no one dominant town you have consistently spoken up for the County Town.

"When I was appointed as Lord Lieutenant I challenged Maidstone's city fathers to live up to the name of our County Town – and my goodness have they risen to the challenge.

"It's great to see all the new development and Maidstone taking its natural place as the centre of the county without being a dominating force – and I see that as an advantage to the county."