The KM Group's Trevor Sturgess has been appointed as one of just four new Deputy Lieutenants of Kent.

The Business Editor has been honoured for his positive contributions to Kent and the nation.

The other newly appointed Deputy Lieutenants are The Lady Colgrain of Sevenoaks , William (Bill) Fawcus of Dover and Colonel James Partridge TD of East Sussex.

The Lieutenancy of Kent consists of the Lord Lieutenant, Vice Lord Lieutenant, and a maximum of 64 other Deputy Lieutenants.

Duties for the new deputies will include greeting and accompanying Royalty and Heads of State during official visits to the County, the presentation of honours and awards on behalf of the Crown, and participation in Citizenship ceremonies.

They also advise on how local people can put forward nominations for honours or for invitations to Buckingham Palace Garden Parties.

Trevor joined the KMG in 1987, set up the business desk in the early 1990s, and Kent Business in 1993 with the 20th anniversary next March.

He was previously a journalist in the Middle East where he reported on sport, diplomatic and environmental issues. He also interviewed sporting legends like Pele, Kevin Keegan and Lester Piggott.

Trevor is a school governor and a member of Kent Business School advisory board. He has raised thousands of pounds for charity by taking part in the annual London to Brighton Bike Ride for the past 10 years.

These are the first Deputy Lieutenant appointments to be made by the new Lord-Lieutenant, Viscount De L’Isle MBE, who took up the position of Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent on the 1st September 2011.

Lord De L’Isle said: “We welcome these new Deputy Lieutenants whose experience will further reinforce the effectiveness and diversity of the Lieutenancy and will ensure we continue to take up whatever challenges lie ahead."