BRITAIN’S most successful Paralympian and a brewery boss are among the new deputy lieutenants for the country’s biggest county.

Baroness Grey-Thompson of Eaglescliffe won many gold medals and holds numerous world records and is also involved with numerous sporting bodies and charities.

Simon Theakston is the executive director of TR Theakston’s of Masham - founded in 1827 - and is also involved with a host of other local activites.

They are among six new deputy lieutenants appointed, with the Queen’s agreement, by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne.

Deputy lieutenants act as the eyes and ears of the Lieutenancy and help the Lord Lieutenant in his role as the Queen’s official representative. The posts are honorary, and unremunerated.

The others include Lord Best, the former chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation; Professor Graham Henderson, the vice chancellor and chief executive of Teesside University; Alexandra Holroyd, currently the county’s High Sheriff; and Dr Richard Shepherd, currently chamberlain and director of development at York Minster.

For further information about the Lieutenancy and a list of deputy lieutenants visit the website nyll.org.uk