Rugby legend Rory Underwood is among three new Deputy Lieutenants of Leicestershire.
England's record try-scorer Underwood, who clocked up 134 tries in a Leicester Tigers jersey, was appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur OBE, alongside Sue Whelan from Leicester City FC and Lt Colonel David Young TD in honour of their service to the community. The trio were formally presented with their new duties in a ceremony held at the Leicestershire County Council headquarters earlier this month.
Deputy Lieutenants undertake a wide range of duties and engagements including representing the Lord-Lieutenant and participating in Citizenship Ceremonies, attending services and parades, and helping to assess local organisations nominated for awards and honours.
Rory was delighted to receive the appointment and said: “It was a fantastic honour when Mike asked me, I was quite gobsmacked really.
“I really enjoyed the ceremony, with my wife and eldest daughter there to watch, and felt very welcomed to the team by everyone there, with some of the other Deputy Lieutenants there for the ceremony as well.
“I feel very, very honoured and very proud to have been asked.”
Underwood played for Tigers for 14 years between 1983 and 1997, making 236 appearances while also following a career as a Royal Air Force pilot. he also won 91 Test caps, including six for the British & Irish Lions. He served with the RAF until 2001 before setting up management consultancy company Wingman Ltd and is also on the board of directors at the Tigers.
