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 John Nicholas Reynolds Houghton,Baron Houghton of Richmond,is a retired senior British Army officer and former Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the British Armed Forces. He was appointed CDS in July 2013,following the retirement of General Sir David Richards. He served as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion,the Green Howards in Northern Ireland during The Troubles and later became Commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade in Northern Ireland. He deployed as Senior British Military Representative and Deputy Commanding General,Multi-National Force –Iraq during the Iraq War. Later,he became Chief of Joint Operations at Permanent Joint Headquarters and served as Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff until assuming the position of CDS. Houghton retired from the British Army in July 2016,and was succeeded as CDS by Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach.
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.
General Francis Richard Dannatt,Baron Dannatt,is a retired senior British Army officer and member of the House of Lords. He was Chief of the General Staff from 2006 to 2009.
Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas,is a British 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.
Lieutenant General 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 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.
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.
Lieutenant General Michael Richard Elviss,is a senior British Army officer. He currently serves as Commander Field Army.
