IT is not every day that you get a letter from the Prime Minster, but that is how Barry Dodd was offered the post of Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

He said: “It came as quite a pleasant surprise; you can’t apply for it. Mr Cameron said that they would like to put my name forward to the Queen for the job.”

As the personal representative of the Queen, Mr Dodd’s prime duty is to maintain the dignity of the monarch. He must fulfil key functions, such as arranging visits by members of the royal family, presenting medals or honours and taking part in civic activities.

The post is non-political and held until retirement at 75. Within their own county, a Lord Lieutenant has precedence immediately after the sovereign.

Dating back to Henry VIII’s reign, Lord Lieutenants were originally created to control the Crown’s forces. A part from a blip following the Civil War, they retained control of the militia until 1871.

Asked if he hankers for any of the Lord Lieutenants’ previous sweeping powers, Mr Dodd says with a smile: “To be able to park anywhere, especially in York would be quite useful.”

A successful businessman, Barry Dodd is a self-made man. Brought up and educated in Chicago, following university he worked for ICI including a spell at Teesside.

Electing to work for himself, his road to success started on the top floor of a terraced house and took him to running a multinational global services and manufacturing group. Living in Carlton-in-Cleveland, he is also chairman and major shareholder in two high-tech software and systems companies.

Unsurprisingly, he runs the Lord Lieutenancy on business-like lines. “I intend to use the role to promote the business sector, charitable and voluntary work,” he says. “Things such as the Queen’s Award for Industry really help to get jobs locally, particularly where they are needed on Teesside.

“Also the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service means a lot to the recipients.

“I can use the tool of the Lord Lieutenancy to make the area much more prosperous.”

North Yorkshire has a population of 1,135,800, a strong military presence and is the largest geographic lieutenancy in England. Demand for royal services is high, and there’s at least one royal visit every month, which means Mr Dodd has to work closely with both North Yorkshire and Cleveland Police.

“They are fantastic and really do royal visits well,” he says. “Both our local forces are well-organised and professional.”

The Lord Lieutenant and his deputies are not even a slight financial strain on the public purse as they are not paid. North Yorkshire County Council provides secretarial and PA support, but just about the only expense Mr Dodd claims is for a driver – attending a function in uniform adorned by spurs and a sword makes it impossible to drive, he says.

British Empire Medals are always presented to their recipients at County Hall by the Lord Lieutenant, and Mr Dodd presents other decorations when the awardee is unable to attend Buckingham Palace. He also issues sought-after invitations to Royal garden parties.

He says: “I get cards and letters from people who have been to the palace or who have received an award – they love it.”

He is himself no stranger to the royals, having been an awarded an OBE in 2006 and a CBE in 2014. He cites meeting the Queen as the highlight of his tenure – two days after our meeting he and the other Lord Lieutenants posed with the monarch for a 90th birthday photograph – and says: “When you are in the presence of Her Majesty it is really clear to me that she is the boss.

“She commands huge respect and deservedly so.”

All requests for services are made via Mr Dodd. If he cannot attend, he will choose one of his 48 Deputy Lieutenants (DL). “Last year I was deputised 83 times,” he says. “You can cover much more ground with a team.”

DL Simon Theakston, who lives near Harrogate, explained: “It is a huge honour to be invited to serve as a Deputy Lieutenant to support and represent the Lord Lieutenant at the very many functions and events in North Yorkshire.

“It is also wonderful to support the many thousands of people who invest time and effort in arranging the wide variety of events. Anything that promotes and supports our great county is source of great pleasure and pride. It is also great to ensure that the efforts of individuals are noted.”

Businessman Sir Harry Wilmot, a relatively new DL who lives in Stokesley, says: “The best moment for me so far was lighting the beacon at the war memorial in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough.

“It was a nice mix of formality and unscheduled hilarity when a family roller-skated through the parade completely unconcerned with what was going around them.”

It is this getting out and meeting ordinary people – taking the royal family out onto the streets – that makes the Lord Lieutenants relevant today.

Mr Dodd says: “There are people who have been volunteering for over 50 years. Some of them are amazing and have made a real difference to people's lives.

"Even the most ardent republican behaves when meeting the Queen; it's a matter of manners.

“The reaction of people to the royal family is wonderful; they bring huge amount of joy to people.”

After a hectic day accompanying the Queen or some other Royal dignitary on a tour of North Yorkshire, how does the Lord Lieutenant relax?

Mr Dodd replies: “When I get home, like everyone else, I have a job list. I do some work with animals and it brings me down to earth; physical activity is a great leveller.”

For further details, to request the services of the Lord Lieutenancy or for assistance with royal visits, visit nyll.org.uk