ISLE of Wight volunteers gathered to pay tribute to the county’s outgoing Lord Lieutenant, Maj Gen Sir Martin White.

On Friday (February 15), the voluntary sector thanked the Lord Lieutenant and Lady Fiona White for their service to the Island during the last 12 years at a party at the Riverside Centre, Newport, hosted by Richard Priest.

Several speakers from organisations and charities the Lord Lieutenant and Lady White have worked with over the years, many of which have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, shared their experiences and thanked them for their support.

Standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and cadets from the Island’s Army Cadet Force also took part in the evening, along with Lord Lieutenant cadets, past and present, who expressed their gratitude.

Personal tributes were also made from officers the Lord Lieutenant had served with in the armed forces.

A letter of good wishes on his retirement, at the end of March, was presented to the Lord Lieutenant from Sir John Major, Prime Minister during the first Gulf War in 1990/91 when Sir Martin commanded the UK’s logistic operation in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Memories were also shared from Sir Martin’s time as a schoolboy at Sandown Grammar School.

Shanklin Town Brass Band provided the music and a fabulous cake was presented by the Women’s Institute, among other gifts.

Sir Martin said both he and Lady White were overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of the voluntary sector on the Island.