Over the last week the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, Honorary Colonel of 1st (NI) Bn ACF, joined both C and D Company of 1st (NI) Bn ACF as they took part in the Queen's Green Canopy initiative to plant trees to mark Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. 

Last weekend the Lord-Lieutenant joined D Company at Carnmoney. They were joined by the the Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council, Councillor Billy Webb, MBE, JP, and the Commandant of 1st (NI) Bn ACF, Colonel Adrian Donaldson, MBE, VR, DL.

This weekend he joined cadets from C Company, Ballymena Sea Cadets and the Air Cadets to plant 250 oak trees in Ballymena. It was a great initiative to have cross-service cadets in attendance. They were also joined by the Deputy Mayor of Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Councillor Matthew Armstrong.

The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Deputy Lieutenants (DLs):

• ​​Colonel Samuel McCammond, UD, VR    

Broughshane

and

• Mr Peter Mackie

Loughguile

Colonel Samuel (Sam) McCammond, UD, VR, lives in Broughshane. Sam served in the UDR and then the Royal Irish Regiment. He was Commandant of 2nd (Northern Ireland) Battalion Army Cadet Force (ACF) between 2018 and 2021. He retired from Stevenson & Reid in 2021 as a Director.

Peter Mackie lives at Lissanoure Castle, Loughguile, where he farms and runs a wedding and hospitality business. Peter has had a distinguished career in the property world and, amongst other appointments, is a member of the Prince's Trust NI Advisory Committee.

Their commissions were dated 7th February 2022 and their appointments were published in the Gazette today.

​The Lord-Lieutenant and the Antrim Lieutenancy would like to congratulate Sam and Peter and welcome them to the team.

For further information on the role of a DL, please click here.

This morning the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, on behalf of the Northern Irish Lord-Lieutenants, took the Royal Gun Salute at Hillsborough Castle to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Accession to the Throne of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Accession Day was on 6th February, however Royal Gun Salutes never take place on a Sunday. The Royal Gun Salutes at Hillsborough are undertaken on rotation by the all of Lord-Lieutenants in Northern Ireland and are organised by RFCA NI.

The Lord-Lieutenant was joined by his Lord-Lieutenant Cadet, Cadet Company Sergeant Major Ciara McKay, of 1st (NI) Bn ACF, Antrim.

On the eve of the 70th anniversary of her Accession to the throne, Her Majesty The Queen released a message thanking the public and her family for their support, and looking forward to Platinum Jubilee celebrations over the coming year. 
​

​Further information can be found on the Royal Family website: ​https://www.royal.uk/accession-day-2022

​This Sunday, the 6th February 2022, marks the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's accession to the throne, marking the official start of the Platinum Jubilee. 

This week the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, wrote to HM The Queen on behalf of the people of County Antrim ahead of the anniversary on Sunday.

You can view the official record of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II on the Gazette here:
www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39458/supplement/757