One of the UK's most well known Overseas Territories is Gibraltar, and the office of Governor is one that goes back over 300 years. Due to the constitutional position of Gibraltar, the Governor is a symbolic role rather than one of a Head of Government, meaning it is usually inhabited by a Senior Military officer, similar to Jersey and Guernsey. As well as carrying out ceremonial functions, similar to a Head of State, the Governor has to officially appoint the Chief Minister, and is also Commander-in-chief of all military forces on the island.
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| The Standard of the Governor of Gibraltar, a Union Flag defaced with the Coat of Arms of Gibrltar |
The current Governor is Lieutenant General Ed Davis, CB, CBE - a Royal Marines officer. Born in Herefordshire in 1963, Davis went to boarding school in Northern Ireland, in County Londonderry.
After gaining his Commission in 1981, he joined 40 Commando and undertook tours in both the Falkland Islands and Cyprus. He attended the Army Command and Staff Course at Staff College, Camberley in 1996 and was appointed Chief of Staff at the Headquarters of the Combat Service Support Group (UK). Whilst in this role he served in the Bosnian War. In 2007 he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Commander of the UK’s Amphibious Forces, and was deployed to Afghanistan as Chief of Joint Effects for the ISAF. In 2010 he was appointed Commander of 3 Commando Brigade (which along with Royal Marines, includes Commandos from the Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, and Fleet Air Arm).
In 2011, he was redeployed to Afghanistan, and appointed Commander of Task Force Helmand. Later in the same year, he became Commandant General of the Royal Marines (the professional head of the Royal Marines). In 2014, he became Deputy Commander of NATO Allied Land Command, based in Turkey. And in October 2015, it was announced that he would become Governor Gibraltar, after the early retirement of Sir James Dutton. And he took office in January 2016.
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| Ed Davis carrying out an inspection, whilst Commandant General of the Royal Marines |
Gibrltar is very closely linked to the Royal Marines, its name even appears on the corps' cap badge, so it is appropriate that a Royal Marine with such a long and distinguished career serves as Her Majesty's representative on the Rock.
The Last Government Houses
Unlike most of its equivalents in Britain's other Territories and Dependencies, the Governor's residence has a unique name - the Convent. Built in 1513, it was originally a convent for Franciscan Friars, and became the Governor's residence in 1728. Located on Main Street, it is ceremonially guarded by soldiers of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, and is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a Nun. The dining room of the Convent also contains the most extensive collection of Heraldry in the Commonwealth.
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| The Convent has been the Governor's residence since 1728 |
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