The Lord-Lieutenant and Vice Lord-Lieutenant
Ian Dudson is the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire
Sir Ian Dudson KCVO CBE is the Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire. He was appointed to this role on 29 March 2012. Sir Ian comes from an industrial background, with his family business, which manufactures ceramic tableware for the global hospitality industry, being based in Stoke on Trent since 1800.
Over the years, Sir Ian has been recognized for his significant contributions over the years. In 2002, he was awarded the CBE for his services to the ceramics industry. Later, in 2017, he was made a Knight of the Order of St John. Most recently, in the New Year Honours 2025, Sir Ian was knighted by His Majesty The King for his dedicated service to the crown as Lord-Lieutenant.
Before his current appointment, Sir Ian served as a Deputy Lieutenant since 2001 and was High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 2010-2011. He also held the position of Pro-Chancellor of Keele University and Chair of Council from 2005-2012 and was a founding member of the Local Enterprise Partnership.
Currently, Sir Ian is the Chair of the Trustees of The Dudson Centre, a resource centre for voluntary groups, and he was a Council member at Lichfield Cathedral. In his role as Custos Rotulorum, he chaired the Magistrates Advisory Committee for Staffordshire and the Staffordshire & West Mercia Magistrates Advisory Committee from 2019-2021.
He is the President of 12 Staffordshire-based organisations, including:
- Douglas Macmillan Hospice
- Tennis Staffordshire
- Staffordshire Community Foundation
- Staffordshire Branch CPRE
- Scouting Staffordshire
- SSAFA Staffordshire
- St John County Priory Group
- Lichfield Festival
- Beaudesert Trust
- Staffordshire Magistrates Association
- Society of Staffordshire Artists
- Staffordshire & Birmingham Agricultural Society
Additionally, Sir Ian is a former President and now a Vice-President of the West Midlands Reserves and Cadets Association.
He also serves as Patron of the Wildlife Trust Staffordshire, Trent and Mersey Canal Society, Lichfield Science and Engineering Society, the Friends of Staffordshire and West Midlands (North Sector) Army Cadet Force, Kendall & Wall Charitable Trust, and Joint Patron of Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Blood Bikes, Lichfield Cathedral Friends, Peel Society, and an Honorary Patron of the Pathway Project in Lichfield.
(Photograph courtesy of Derek Tamea Photography)
Vice Lord-Lieutenant
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant, with His Majesty the King's approval is appointed by the Lord Lieutenant from one of the deputies. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant carries out the normal duties of the Lord-Lieutenant should they be away, ill or unable to attend an event. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant would normally stand down from their position when a new Lord-Lieutenant is appointed. However this can be extended at the discretion of the Lord-Lieutenant.
The age of retirement for Vice Lord-Lieutenants is, as for Lord-Lieutenants, 75.
Lord-Lieutenants are required to appoint Deputy Lieutenants within an establishment that varies according to the population of the county. In Staffordshire a maximum of 58 Deputy Lieutenants may be appointed. They are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant, subject only to His Majesty not approving the Commission. The letters 'DL' appear after their names. You can view a full list of Deputy Lieutenants.
The Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire is Mr Graham Morley, DL who was appointed on 30 April 2023 following the completion of service by his predecessor Mr James Leavesley DL.
Mr Morley was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2014 and has undertaken a key role in the promotion and recognition of the Lieutenancy throughout the education sector within the county. He has worked in various posts within education including the position of Principal for South Staffordshire College.