At the midway point of Allan Willett's term as Lord Lieutenant, Kent Messenger Group President and Deputy Lieutenant Edwin Boorman talks to him about the challenges facing Kent and the Lieutenancy at a time of massive changes.

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VISIT the Royal website and you will find that a key part of The Queen's role is defined as providing a focus for national identity and unity, and maintaining stability and continuity in times of change.

Nowhere is facing such rapid change on such an unprecedented scale as our county of Kent – and never before has it been so important for us to cling on to our Kentishness.

As Her Majesty's representative, Allan Willett has reflected those themes in his aims for the Lieutenancy of Kent – to provide the focus for county identity, unity and pride, and give that sense of stability so vital when all about us is changing.

Over the past five years his Lieutenancy, which countywide includes 60 or so deputies from all walks of life, has been playing an increasingly significant role in celebrating and projecting the interests of Kent's communities.

He has now passed the mid-point of his Lieutenancy – a good time to take stock.

As a Deputy Lieutenant myself, I must declare an interest. But that inside knowledge enables me to appreciate fully how his Lieutenancy has evolved to add value to people's lives and foster Kentishness in our world of rapid change and increasing globalisation.

A glance at the list of Lord Lieutenants dating back more than four centuries, confirms Allan Willett did not fit the normal mould – of landed knights and peers.

It is no secret that in recommending new appointees to The Queen, the Prime Minister's office and Palace officials are keen to seek names from a far wider cross-section of society than in the past.

Introducing Allan Willett at a recent Weald of Kent Protection Society event, its President, Sir John Ure, described him as "the very model of a modern Lord Lieutenant".

Does he accept that label?

"Certainly when given the appointment it was made clear to me by the Palace and the Prime Minister's office that they wanted the county lieutenancies to modernise, develop and operate in their own way broadly in line with the evolution of the Monarchy itself.

"Of course it's changing all the time. It was a very different world when Lord Kingsdown became Lord Lieutenant a quarter of a century ago.

"He did wonderful work representing The Queen in our county and in terms of public duty and service. Nothing I have done that is different should be considered as a criticism of what he did.

"I'm sure that when it comes to my successor he or she will be looking back at my time and saying 'we must move on'. One of the great strengths of the Lieutenancy is that it isn't run centrally.

"Within reason the Palace lets us get on with what we're doing because each of us knows our county very well and adapts and adopts different systems to work for it. That's one of our great strengths."

How did Allan Willett assess the challenges facing the Lieutenancy when he took over?

"I was fortunate in that I had been chairman of the South East England Development Agency and I'd been on the board of Locate in Kent and chairman of the East Kent Initiative.

"Two things were obvious to me: that the people of Kent – and this was supported by the MORI poll that was done on behalf of Kent County Council – feel very strongly about our county. They are proud of Kent and want it to continue and thrive as it has done through the centuries.

"The second point is that our dear old County is involved in massive change, wrought by all that is happening in the Thames Gateway with the great world city of London expanding in the only way it can eastwards along the Thames, plus – unique to Kent – the coming of the High Speed Rail Link.

"The challenges and opportunities these changes bring will have a very substantial effect on our county – not only in the north west, but east Kent will no longer be the best kept secret in Europe.

"If you can get to London within an hour from Sandwich or Dover, let alone Ashford and most of the Weald of Kent which is now only marginally in the commuting area, suddenly it all becomes commuter country bringing with it terrific change.

"Not least, Kent is part of the South East region which is the most dynamic area of our country; in the front line of the IT revolution and globalisation, which creates enormous opportunities for business to prosper and greater wealth to be created. But the flip side of globalisation is the insecurity it brings to people.

"Kent's answer to this is to build on the strong communities we are so fortunate to have: wonderful villages and towns that people love greatly and that have been created over the generations and centuries. They are our bulwark against insecurity.

"In this time of increasing globalisation and rapid change people need to retain a sense of belonging and, like the Monarchy, the Lieutenancy can be a potent independent force for good, and a constant anchor."