The usher of the Black Rod is an official in the parliaments of several countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. The title is often shortened to Black Rod,and in some countries,formally known as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod if male,or Lady Usher of the Black Rod if female. The position originates in the House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Equivalent positions also exist in Australia,Canada and New Zealand.
Field Marshal Charles Ronald Llewelyn Guthrie,Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank,is a retired senior officer of the British Army who served as Chief of the General Staff from 1994 to 1997 and Chief of the Defence Staff from 1997 until his retirement in 2001.
Field Marshal Michael John Dawson Walker,Baron Walker of Aldringham,is a retired British Army officer. Commissioned in 1966,he served in Cyprus,Northern Ireland,and in a variety of staff posts in the United Kingdom until 1984. After being given command of a battalion,he was mentioned in despatches for his service during a second tour of duty in Northern Ireland,this time in Derry,and subsequently served a tour on Gibraltar. He was promoted to brigadier,unusually having never held the rank of colonel,and took command of 20th Armoured Brigade in Germany before becoming I Corps chief of staff.
Lieutenant General Arundell David Leakey,is a former British Army officer. He was Director General of the European Union Military Staff in the Council of the European Union,Brussels. In 2010 he was appointed Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod,a role he held until February 2018.
Sir Ian David Macfadyen,is a senior Royal Air Force officer,a former Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man (2000–05) and Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle (2009–14).
Air Chief Marshal Sir John Shakespeare Allison,is a retired senior Royal Air Force (RAF) commander. He was the Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State.
Air Chief Marshal Sir George Holroyd Mills,was a senior Royal Air Force commander. After his retirement from the RAF,Mills served as Black Rod in the Houses of Parliament until 1970. He was also a trustee of the Imperial War Museum.
Air Chief Marshal Sir John Gingell,was a senior Royal Air Force commander and Gentleman usher of the Black Rod.
General David Julian Richards,Baron Richards of Herstmonceux,is a retired senior British Army officer and Peer who was formerly the Chief of the Defence Staff,the professional head of the British Armed Forces. He succeeded Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup in this role on 29 October 2010.
Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas,is a retired Royal Navy officer. He was the First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from April 2013 until he handed over duties to Admiral Sir Philip Jones in April 2016.
Major General Richard Matthew McQueen Sykes CVO is a retired senior British Army officer. From 2010 to 2014 he was group chief executive of Elizabeth Finn Care,a large charity providing relief from poverty in the UK. A former British Army officer,his military career culminated as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel) in the UK Ministry of Defence. At the same he served as the Defence Services Secretary from 2007 to 2010 in the Royal Household. He is currently chief executive of the Sir Simon Milton Foundation.
Sir Frederick Richard Viggers,is a former senior British Army officer who served as Adjutant-General to the Forces immediately prior to his retirement in 2008. He was Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod from 30 April 2009 to 28 October 2010. He also served in Bosnia in the aftermath of the breakup of Yugoslavia,and in the Iraq War.
General Sir Peter Anthony Wall,is a retired British Army officer who served as the Chief of the General Staff,the professional head of the British Army,until September 2014. Wall had previously been the Commander-in-Chief,Land Forces from August 2009 to September 2010. He succeeded General Sir David Richards as Chief of the General Staff in September 2010,the latter going on a month later to be Chief of the Defence Staff.
General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue,is a retired British Army officer and former Chief of Defence Materiel. He retired from the service in December 2010,being succeeded as Chief of Defence Materiel by Bernard Gray.
Admiral Sir Guy Charles Cecil Royle was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Fifth Sea Lord and First Naval Member of the Royal Australian Navy.
Admiral Sir Philip Andrew Jones,is a retired senior Royal Navy officer. After service in the South Atlantic in 1982 during the Falklands War,he commanded the frigates HMS Beaver and HMS Coventry. He went on to be Flag Officer,Scotland,Northern England and Northern Ireland,Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff before being appointed Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. Jones served as First Sea Lord from April 2016 to June 2019.
General Sir Michael Anthony Shrapnel Biddulph was a British Army officer who became Black Rod,a parliamentary official.
Lieutenant General Sir Gerald William Berragan,is a former senior British Army officer who has served as Adjutant-General.
Major General Charles Gerard Courtenay Vyvyan,is a retired British Army officer. He served as Head of the British Defence Staff and Defence Attachéin Washington,D.C. (1997–2000),and Gentleman Usher of the Scarlet Rod (2006–2018).
Air-Vice Marshal David Richard Hawkins,also known as David Hawkins-Leth,was a senior Royal Air Force officer who commanded the Royal Air Force Regiment in the 1990s. After his RAF service,he became an usher for Black Rod and a Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Greater London.
