Our reporter Anna Makeeva speaks to Roderick Morriss, the Queen’s representative for Hackney.
I met Roderick Morriss,72, Deputy Lieutenant of Hackney and the Queen’s representative, in the Oriental Club, in 19th century gentleman’s club in central London for a cup of coffee at nine in the morning. He was wearing a formal suit and had a military bearing. Just after the meeting, he was due at the dentist. The next morning he was leaving London for the Inter-Livery Ski Championship in France for two weeks. He seemed at one in the Oriental Club: imagining him amid the diversity of Hackney was more difficult.
“Do you think the queen has heard of Hackney?” said Morriss. One of his jobs is to write an annual report about the borough that he sends to his boss, the Queen’s representative for Greater London. “I seriously doubt its value unless it puts Hackney on the map,” said Morriss with a smile.
Being the Queen’s representative and ”dealing with Hackney” takes about two and a half days a week.
The main duties of a deputy lieutenant include welcoming and escorting members of the royal family during their visits to the area. But Morriss is also responsible for the organisation of Remembrance Sunday and other parades, and sending congratulatory messages to those celebrating their 100th and 105th birthdays and those celebrating their 60th, 65th and 70th wedding anniversaries, being involved with youth organisations such as Scouts and Cadets and a number of charities. The role is not paid. ”I have to buy all my uniforms, sword, transport,” he explained.
Morriss was asked if he would like to be the deputy lieutenant for Hackney 21 years ago by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London even though he didn’t have any links to the borough and lives in West Hampstead.
Morriss said he answered: “Yes, please. What does it mean?”.
After being in the position for so many years, he explained the essence of his job as promoting the institution of the monarchy: ”The monarchy is there to unify the country. Very difficult nowadays with Brexit, and Scotland wanting to break away”.
An avid skier, Morriss described manoeuvring through his other 15 volunteer jobs as a slalom. His other roles start from being president of St John Ambulance for half of London and ends up with the presidency of a dance group.
Credits: Roderick Morriss
Was he trying to reduce his responsibilities? No, he said, but his wife is. The day of the interview was their 13th wedding anniversary. They met while sledging in Switzerland.
Morriss comes from an English upper-middle class background. His father worked in the tea industry in India, where Morriss was born. Morriss recalled staff who helped look after the property and the frequent visits of famous polo players from around the world. He moved to the UK when he was 6 years old.
Since starting work, Morriss has had two careers: as an engineer in the shipping industry and in the army. “When I came down to London I didn’t have very much to do and… the Territorial Army in those days was a great thing,” he explained. “I joined the artillery because I didn’t want to dig trenches or march, sadly, I later found that you do both”.
While his great grandfather used to own a castle in Scotland, he and his wife now have a place in South West Scotland.
They recently planted a lot of trees in their garden: “I hope they all survive, [but] I will never see this because it takes 50-100 years for them to grow… it’s for the future as we haven’t any children.”
Morriss said there are only two and a half years left before he will be “kicked out” of the deputy lieutenant position because of his age. “I’m obviously sad, I have great relations with Hackney and lots of friends there,” he said.
As he left the Oriental Club, the staff bade him a respectful farewell. He hurried to the tube to avoid being late for the dentist and invited me not to Hackney, but to his garden in Scotland.
