The Reverend Prebendary Narinder Tegally, Lead Chaplain at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, has been appointed to the prestigious position of Deputy Lieutenant for Somerset.
Narinder is one of five new Deputy Lieutenants who have been appointed to support the Lord Lieutenant, His Majesty’s personal representative in Somerset.
Appointment to the office of Deputy Lieutenant is in recognition of distinguished service to the community, or to the country or county.
Although military in origin, the post no longer has any military significance, but every Deputy Lieutenant undertakes to assist the Lord-Lieutenant in the performance of their duties. This can include representing the Lord-Lieutenant at formal functions, award ceremonies, citizenship ceremonies or attending Remembrance Day services.
Deputy Lieutenants are considered the eyes and ears of the Lord-Lieutenant in the local community.
Narinder said: “I am touched and honoured to be appointed to this position and look forward to serving the communities of Somerset with The Lord-Lieutenant, Mohammed Saddiq, and his team and representing the RUH and Bath and Wells Diocese as their Inter-faith Adviser”.
Welcoming the appointments of the new Deputy Lieutenants, which have been sanctioned by His Majesty The King, Somerset’s Lord-Lieutenant, Mohammed Saddiq, said “We are delighted to welcome these five who bring wide and varied experience to the Lieutenancy in Somerset.
“They will do a great deal to encourage, support and celebrate the lives and achievements of people and voluntary organisations in our county – and that is what the Lieutenancy is about.”
Before her ordination in the Anglican Church, Narinder was a Registered Nurse working in palliative care and mental health. She is a qualified psychodynamic counsellor and intercultural psychotherapist, counselling supervisor and spiritual director.
She is the Lead Chaplain of the RUH and also Priest Vicar at Wells Cathedral.
She is also a Trustee for Ammerdown Retreat Centre, which aspires towards hospitality, peace and reconciliation. Narinder leads retreats, quiet days, and training on racial justice, diversity, vocation and loss at Ammerdown and Bath & Wells Diocese and Nationally.
She and her husband have three grown up daughters and three grandchildren.
You can find out more about the role of the Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset and his deputies at somersetlieutenancy.com