A FORMER bishop has been appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.

The Rt Rev Dr Stephen Venner, who lives in Rochester, retired at the end of 2009 after 10 years as the Bishop in Canterbury (CORR) and Bishop of Dover.

In retirement, he is Bishop to Her Majesty's Armed Forces and Bishop for the Falkland Islands.

He has been involved in education as a teacher and governor, as Vice Chairman of the Church of England Education Board, and as the first Pro-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University.

Until recently he served on the Council of St John Kent, as a senior member of Kent's Strategic Partnership, and as Chairman of Kent's Children's Trust.

Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Allan Willett the Queen's representative in the county, said: "Bishop Stephen's great depth and variety of experience will be an asset to the lieutenancy.

"He is joining a network of fine men and women whose role it is to support the monarchy and celebrate Kent, its unique history and culture, serve its communities and contribute positively to its future.

"One of our most important on-going initiatives is to encourage greater public support for our service personnel and their families, and this is entirely in step with his role as bishop to the armed forces."

Other deputy lieutenants in Kent include musician Jools Holland, who lives at Cooling Castle, near Rochester and Lord Astor of Hever.