2015 - present

WO1 (GSM) Andrew 'Vern' Stokes OBE MVO DL, Coldstream Guards

Born in Shropshire, 'Vern' Stokes enlisted into the British Army in June 1988 aged just 16 years old and, after basic infantry training at the Guards Depot in Pirbright Surrey, he joined the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards in Episkopi Garrison, Cyprus. When the Battalion returned to the United Kingdom in 1990 and were posted to Chelsea Barracks, London he got his first taste of State Ceremonial and Public Duties at the Royal Palaces.

After a tour of Northern Ireland, and overseas exercises in Belize and Kenya, in 1993 the 2nd Battalion amalgamated with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards and deployed to Bosnia for a six month operational tour with the United Nations. He completed further operational tours of Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. He has trained on the Canadian plains, in the African bush and the Central American jungle, and throughout Europe.

He instructed at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick and also at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst where he was a Colour Sergeant Instructor and later a Company Sergeant Major.

In 2010 he was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.

In December 2011 he was appointed as the Academy Sergeant Major at Sandhurst. At that time the appointment was the senior post that a soldier could attain in the British Army. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2013.

Commissioned to Captain, which he has deferred, (and subsequently promoted to Major), he joined the Headquarters at Horse Guards, London in 2014 to begin a year of shadowing the previous Garrison Sergeant Major, 'Billy' Mott. On taking over the role, he has since been responsible for planning and delivery of State Ceremonial events such as the Sovereign’s Birthday Parade, state visits, and other occasions of state.

He was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in the special Demise Honours List 2021 for his involvement in designing and directing the funeral of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh during the pandemic restrictions.

In 2022 he planned and delivered Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee events and also the ceremonial arrangements for her state funeral. In the same year, nominated by BBC Events, he won a BAFTA, in the Entertainment Craft Team Award, for his role in organising the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance and has been nominated and shortlisted again in 2024!

In April 2023 he was awarded ‘True Englishman of the year’ by the St Georges’ Day Society. A week later he was pivotal in delivery of the ceremonial plan supporting His Majesty King Charles III's Coronation, in which he was also a lead planner.

Appointed OBE in the first King’s Birthday Honours list, his citation reads: ‘Confidante, counsellor and mentor to the most successful, but also the struggling and vulnerable, is also one of his notable and praiseworthy traits.’

He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Shropshire in April 2024.

Vern runs the London Marathon annually in support of ABF, The Soldiers Charity. He is engaged to Sue; they have been together since 2012. Sue is his mentor, greatest influencer, best friend and in 2024 – London Marathon buddy. Together they live in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire with their wild Labrador, Jack.

Vern speaks about the planning for his first Trooping the Colour parade during an interview in his office at Horse Guards in 2016.

The Man Behind Britain's Ceremonial Spectaculars

GSM Stokes takes the post of 'H. M. Ceremonial Warrant Officer' forward with the certainty that he has, like those before him, faced the challenge and change.

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