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Surrey Poet Laureateship Marks Installation of New Lord-Lieutenant with Specially Commissioned Poem
Surrey Poet Laureate Adam Gary was commissioned to write I Am Surrey for the installation of Neelam Devesher MBE as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, with the poem read by her grandson during a beautiful service at Guildford Cathedral.
The Surrey Poet Laureateship was deeply honoured to play a special part in one of the most significant civic occasions in Surrey’s calendar: the installation of Neelam Devesher MBE as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey.
Held at the magnificent Guildford Cathedral on Sunday 6th September 2026, the Lieutenancy Service marked the beginning of Neelam’s tenure as The King’s representative in Surrey, while also giving thanks for the distinguished 11-year service of outgoing Lord-Lieutenant Michael More-Molyneux CVO. The service, led by the Dean of Guildford, The Very Reverend Bob Cooper DL, centred around the theme “Unity in Service”.
For the Surrey Poet Laureateship, the occasion was made particularly meaningful by the inclusion of a specially commissioned poem by Surrey Poet Laureate Adam Gary.
I Am Surrey
Ahead of the service, Adam was commissioned to create an original poem for the occasion entitled I Am Surrey.
Written from the perspective of a young person experiencing the county and its many joys, the poem sought to capture the wonder of growing up in Surrey: discovering its landscapes, communities, heritage and character with a sense of youthful curiosity and possibility. It celebrates not simply what Surrey is, but what it can feel like to experience it... the places that shape our memories, the communities that help us belong, and the opportunities that allow a young person to grow.
That perspective made the choice of reader particularly poignant. In a touching moment during the ceremony, I Am Surrey was not read by Adam himself. Instead, the poem was entrusted to Neelam’s grandson, giving its words an authenticity and an intergenerational significance that could not have been more fitting.
Hearing a young person give voice to a poem about experiencing Surrey through youthful eyes, while marking the beginning of his grandmother’s tenure as Lord-Lieutenant, became an incredibly special moment in the service. It reflected beautifully the wider themes of community, belonging, service and the generations who will shape Surrey’s future.
For an organisation founded on the belief that poetry can preserve the stories of Surrey and celebrate the people and places that give our county its identity, it was an immense privilege to see poetry given a place within such an important civic occasion.
A New Chapter for Surrey
Neelam Devesher MBE was appointed by His Majesty The King, succeeding Michael More-Molyneux CVO following his retirement on 3rd September 2026. The appointment was
formally announced by Downing Street in March.
Neelam brings more than 35 years of public and community leadership across government, business and the voluntary sector to the role. Her work in Surrey has included serving as Chair of the Community Foundation for Surrey and Chair of the Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum, alongside extensive work championing inclusion, opportunity and stronger communities. She received her MBE from His Majesty The King earlier this year, having been recognised in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours for services to charity and the community in Surrey.
Her three guiding principles as Lord-Lieutenant will focus on opening doors for Surrey’s next generation, bringing together communities from across the county, and celebrating Surrey and all it has to offer.
These are ambitions that resonate strongly with the work of the Surrey Poet Laureateship and our own commitment to creating opportunities, strengthening communities and celebrating Surrey through poetry.
Poetry for Surrey’s Defining Moments
The commission of I Am Surrey represents another important moment in the developing story of the Surrey Poet Laureateship.
From writing about Surrey’s landscapes and heritage to bringing people together through Poetry Hubs, performances, workshops and community events, the Laureateship has always believed that poetry should be part of the living story of our county.
Poetry can do something uniquely powerful at moments of significance. It can capture what statistics and formal records cannot. It can preserve how a moment felt, give language to a shared sense of identity and create something that can be returned to long after an occasion has passed.
To be asked to contribute original poetry to the beginning of a new chapter in Surrey’s civic history was therefore a tremendous honour.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Mrs Neelam Devesher MBE as she begins her tenure and wish her every success as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey.
We look forward to seeing the communities, organisations and people of Surrey brought together throughout the years ahead – and we are enormously proud that poetry helped mark the very beginning.
What Does the Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey Do?
The Lord-Lieutenant is His Majesty The King’s personal representative in the county. It is a strictly non-political role, connecting the Crown with communities across Surrey and supporting and representing the Sovereign in county life.
The Surrey Lieutenancy works to celebrate outstanding service and endeavour across the county, strengthen connections between Surrey’s many communities, encourage voluntary and charitable organisations, and recognise the people who make exceptional contributions to local life. The Lord-Lieutenant also plays an important role in royal visits and in promoting civic, voluntary, social and commercial life throughout Surrey.
To learn more about Neelam Devesher MBE, the work of the Lieutenancy and its role across the county, visit the Surrey Lieutenancy website.
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