His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Mrs Johanna Ropner, officially appointed the 2026 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets of North Yorkshire and presented the Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards to individuals for their exceptional commitment to services in the cadet and reserve forces. The ceremony was held last night at Worsley Barracks, York and was hosted by the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Yorkshire and the Humber. The event was attended by military officers and personnel including the High Sheriff of North Yorkshire Nigel Corner DL and The Rt. Honourable The Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Margaret Wells.
About the Lord-Lieutenant’s Awards
The Lord-Lieutenant’s Award recognises cadets, cadet adult volunteers, reservists and military civilian support staff for their extraordinary efforts and supplements honours bestowed by His Majesty The King in the New Year and Birthday Honours Lists.
Cadets awarded become one of the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets of their county supporting the Lord-Lieutenant at many ceremonial duties throughout the year. Duties can range from Royal Visits to services such as Remembrance Day. To receive this, cadets must be of the highest standard with excellent bearing, good interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with others. Recipients should hold the rank of at least Able Cadet or Cadet Sergeant and should have been a cadet for at least two years. This award is the highest honour a cadet can achieve and offers opportunities unique only to the cadets recognised as Lord-Lieutenant Cadets.
This award is the highest honour a cadet can achieve and offers opportunities unique only to the cadets recognised as Lord-Lieutenant Cadets. The Lord-Lieutenant’s Award is also given to adult volunteers of any rank serving in the reserves and cadet forces as well as military-civilian support staff for their work in the forces, specifically recognising exceptional service.
Deepest Gratitude
HM Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire said:
“My heartfelt congratulations to everyone honoured at this year’s Lord-Lieutenant Awards. It is a genuine pleasure to recognise these outstanding members of the Reserve and Cadet Forces, whose efforts enrich and strengthen the Armed Forces community across North Yorkshire in such meaningful ways.
I am especially delighted by the appointment of the 2026 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets. These young people stand as shining examples to their fellow cadets and bring great credit to their communities. I look forward to their valuable support at official engagements and ceremonies over the year ahead.”
Father and daughter recognised on the same evening
Amongst the evening’s recipients were Cadet Force Adult Volunteer Warrant Officer Andrew Lister and his daughter, Cadet Warrant Officer Emma Lister, one of the appointed Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets of North Yorkshire. Both were recognised at the 2026 North Yorkshire awards.
Andrew Lister, who has served as a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer for 24 years, says: “It’s a real privilege to receive this award for myself and even more of a privilege to see Emma receive this award on the same evening. As a cadet instructor, it is always great to see cadets develop and achieve high levels of qualifications and experience, particularly when it’s your own daughter.”
Emma added: “I’m incredibly honoured to receive this award for myself, and to also see my dad receive it as well. Since joining the Cadet Force, I’ve been following in his footsteps, so it’s quite nice to be acknowledged at the same event alongside him.”
North Yorkshire award recipients full list
The following individuals were recognised for their outstanding service:
RESERVES
- Major Darrell Boyes, 4th Battalion The Royal Yorkshire Regiment
- Major Charles Howard 4th Battalion The Royal Yorkshire Regiment
- WO2 Ian Wilson, Army Training Unit North
- Sergeant Graeme Casey, 37 Signal Regiment, 50th (Northern) Signal Squadron, Kohima Troop
- Acting Pilot Officer William Hobday, Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron
CADET FORCE ADULT VOLUNTEERS (CFAVs)
- Lieutenant Commander (SCC) Natalie Davies RNR, Eastern Area Sea Cadets, North East District
- Sub Lieutenant (SCC) Kenneth Lomas RNR, Eastern Area Sea Cadets, TS Unseen, Filey Sea Cadets
- Major Edward Richardson, Yorkshire (North and West) Army Cadets Force, B Company HQ
- Flight Lieutenant Samuel Booth, North Region, Royal Air Force Air Cadets
- Warrant Officer Andrew Lister, Central and East Yorkshire Wing, Royal Air Force Air Cadets
- Andrew Collings, Central and East Yorkshire Wing, Royal Air Force Air Cadets
LORD-LIEUTENANT’S CADETS
- Leading Cadet Harvey Miles, SCC Cadet, TS Unseen (Filey)
- Cadet Sergeant Freddie Robinson , ACF Cadet, Knaresborough Detachment
- Cadet Warrant Officer Emma Lister, ATC Cadet, 2168 (Yeadon) Squadron, Central and East Yorkshire Wing
- Cadet Sergeant Oliver Walker, RAFAC CCF Cadet, Read School CCF
Statement from the 2026 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets of North Yorkshire
Leading Cadet Miles says:
“To me, becoming a Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet means being a role model for others, representing my unit and making Filey proud.”
Cadet Sergeant Robinson says:
“Becoming a Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet is such a great honour to me as it means I will be able to push myself out my comfort zone. It also means I get to represent the Army Cadet Force in a way I never thought would be possible. I am privileged to be able to take this role for my final year as a cadet and I am extremely excited to see what this next year has to offer.”
Cadet Warrant Officer Emma Lister says:
“It’s a huge honour to be appointed as Lord Lieutenant’s cadet. I look forward to the year ahead.”
Cadet Sergeant Walker says:
“Becoming a Lord’s Lieutenant Cadet is an honour, and a huge personal achievement. It gives me great pride to be able to represent both my county and my fellow cadets, and I can’t wait to see what it will bring.”
Meet the 2026 Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets of North Yorkshire: