SWINDONIANS do not sing the praises of their home town enough, according to the retiring Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire.

Lieutenant General Sir Maurice Johnston believes residents should make more noise about how great their town is.

His time is up as the Queen's representative in the county when his 75th birthday arrives on October 27.

He said: "The Queen sacks all the Lord Lieutenants at midnight on their 75th birthday.

"The appointment used to be for life but it changed in 1972 after the Queen met some nonagenarian somewhere who convinced her that they went on too long."

Sir Maurice is a former cavalryman who rose to become Deputy Chief of Defence Staff. He has spent a lot of time in Swindon during the eight and a half years he has held the role.

"I go to Swindon once or twice every week as it's the biggest town in my patch," he said.

"I was on the committee trying to achieve city status, and a member of the steering group trying to get a university presence in Swindon.

"And the centre seat in the front row of the Wyvern Theatre has an imprint of my backside on it.

"The one thing that makes me sad about Swindon is that Swindonians don't sing its praises loud enough. It could be, and I'm sure it will be, a central focal point in years to come of Wessex and all things South West."

Sir Maurice has mixed feelings as his time as Lord Lieutenant draws to a close.

He said: "Of course I shall miss it. Among other things I shall miss meeting hundreds of ordinary people who, in their own spare time as volunteers, are doing wonderful things to help other people in their lives.

"But I am looking forward with my wife, who is retiring after 22 years on the bench (as a magistrate), to be able to do our own thing, which we haven't managed to do for ages."

But Sir Maurice and Lady Belinda, who live in Worton, near Devizes, will still have their hands full.

He said: "I've got five grandchildren who live nearby, and a two-acre garden that is open to the public.

"I engrave glass professionally, we both adore music and we shall undoubtedly travel."

New Lord Lieutenant

Replacing Sir Maurice is John Bush, a 67-year-old farmer who lives at Heywood, near Westbury.

As well as farming, he is chairman of Countrywide Farmers, an agricultural supply and retailing company owned by farmers.

He became a JP in 1980 and in 1991 is currently chairman of the Wiltshire Magistrates Courts Committee.

He has been the Deputy Lieutenant for Wiltshire since 1998, and was High Sheriff of Wiltshire from 1997 to 1998.

His interests include reading, travel, gardening and tennis.

David Andrew