Bedfordshire's Lord Lieutenant – leading from the front with her optimistic personality

Bedfordshire is incredibly lucky to have a Lord Lieutenant like Helen Nellis, who was appointed by the Queen in 2012.

And never more so than now, when her unfailingly positive messages of love, thanks and support have rallied the county during this dreadful pandemic and made us all proud to be British.

A qualified barrister with a background in academia, Helen says she’s blessed with an optimistic personality “which helps when times are tough.”

Her father instilled a love of poetry and reading and she says she’s always turned to books for inspiration and solace. Her daily Tweets have lifted spirits everywhere. They’re often poignant quotes taken from popular literature and accompanied by beautiful flower pictures, captured by an elderly uncle whose passion is photography.

And many are paeans of praise for our voluntary organisations and charities who have rushed in to help with no thought for themselves.

She says: “I think we’ve all marvelled at how they’ve thrown themselves wholeheartedly into helping the vulnerable and anxious during this time. They have inspired us as individuals to think of how we can play our part.”

And there’s a special mention of the nation’s hero, Captain – now Colonel – Tom.

Helen says meeting him was such a special treat: “His gentle wise words, along with his huge tenacity to push himself to the limit to raise £33 million for the NHS, captured the imagination of the whole world.

“Because of social distancing, I was unable to shake his hand when I delivered HM The Queen’s personal birthday card. But I’ve promised to return, when we’re able, to give him a big hug.

“Bedfordshire is full of big-hearted and generous people looking for the best way to use our diverse skills and experiences to build kind and cohesive communities.”

The mother-of-three runs a consultancy business specialising in the improvement of personal and board-level leadership performances in complex organisations. And she is her own best advert, interacting with people from all walks of life with an easy charm and self-effacing informality.

Helen is married to Professor Joe Nellis of Cranfield University and claims being socially isolated at home has been a good experience on the whole: ”We’ve both learned a huge amount, very quickly, about how to use technology to communicate.

“We have relished having time together and enjoying daily walks and cycle rides because normally we can be like ships that pass in the night with our busy lives.”

Like most couples, they’re missing their children. Two are abroad and one lives in London.

Helen says Zoom calls help: “But I’m longing to give them a cuddle.”

Helen Nellis was the first woman to be appointed to the honorary role of Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. Her duties include developing close links with the military and uniformed organisations as well as the voluntary sector. In addition she has close ties with local civic, business, industrial, social and community groups. She is responsible for nominations for awards and presenting them. And she attends numerous functions and events as the Queen’s representative in the county.

Last year Helen was given the huge honour of being invested as Commander of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem for services to humanity.