Squadron gets a new general for its colonel

Saturday 5th June 2010, 2:56PM BST.

General Ridgway (right) takes over from General Sir Michael Wilkes (on his right) as honorary colonel of the Jersey Field Squadron. He is pictured talking to Sapper Mac McDonald and Sergeant Paul Davey.

THE Jersey Field Squadron welcomed a new honorary colonel on Wednesday night – swapping one Lieutenant-Governor for another.

A former commander-in-chief of the Island, General Sir Michael Wilkes, stood down and was replaced by the current occupant of Government House, Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgway.

Many squadrons and regiments in the British Army have honorary colonels. They tend to be senior figures who can use their experience and influence to act on the unit’s behalf, often behind the scenes.

General Sir Michael, who was Lieutenant-Governor from 1995 to 2001, became the squadron’s honorary colonel in 2004, but has stood down having reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.

• See Saturday’s JEP for full story.

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