A FORMER Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Lord Michael Boyce, is the new Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. Downing Street made the annoucement regarding the Queen's appointment to the ancient post.

It ends months of speculation over who would take the ceremonial title and names previously in the frame included Prince Andrew, John Major, Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton.

The post has been vacant since the death of the Queen Mother, who was Lord Warden for 23 years.

Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser has warmly welcomed the appointment. He said: "This is a good choice and a choice worth waiting for. Michael has excellent credentials, a long successful naval career and he will he make an excellent Lord Warden.

"I've only met Michael twice, once at a meeting at the Admiralty and another time over dinner at the House of Commons and I was hugely impressed by his vast knowledge and his very common sense approach to the complexities of modern day defence strategies."