The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester

Mrs Diane Hawkins JP LLB

Appointed on Monday 4th July 2022

The Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Diane Hawkins, wearing the Lord-Lieutenant's Badge of Office

Diane was a solicitor in practice in Manchester for many years specialising in Occupational Disease litigation; she is now a Presiding Justice sitting exclusively in the Family Court in Greater Manchester. She is both Deputy Chair of the Family Panel and FTAAAC (the Advisory, Appointments and Appraisals Committee). She is a member of the Church of England Provincial Panel for the Province of York, dealing with clergy disciplinary measures.

She has a significant involvement within the community and has raised money by getting on her bike in various charity cycle rides including rides in Israel, Jordan, Egypt and India, Ride the Night through London and more recently London to Paris in torrential rain and a gale force head wind.

Diane is Deputy Chairman of the Manchester Guardian Society Charitable Trust, meeting quarterly to consider applications from local charitable organisations (within Greater Manchester) for funding; she is a trustee, and Chairman of the Management Committee, of Fortalice, the Bolton Women’s Refuge and Outreach Support Centre and is the Chairman of Bolton Scout Trust. BST is a registered charity which owns and runs Bibbys Farm Camp site, used by many young people, not only Scouts and Guides, including those undertaking D of E training. She speaks to many clubs and local organizations about the work of Fortalice and other topics; she also liaises with local charitable groups to assist with their fund raising amongst other aspects.

In September 2017 Diane was appointed Governor of her old school, Withington Girls’ School in Manchester.

Diane is an active member of Christ Church Heaton where she ran the Cub Pack for many years before becoming District Appointments Chairman for Bolton West prior to her involvement with Bolton Scout Trust.

Diane is married to Stephen, also a Solicitor, and they have two adult sons. She was made a Deputy Lieutenant in 2008 and served as High Sheriff of Greater Manchester in the period 2021/22.