THE chairman of the Fusilier Museum has been bestowed with a royal honour.

Col Brian Gorski has been officially appointed as a deputy to the man who represents the Queen in Greater Manchester.

The Lord Lieutenant is Her Majesty The Queen’s personal representative in the region, and Col Gorski will undertake official and ceremonial duties on behalf of the Greater Manchester Lieutenancy.

Col Gorski, who lives in Bolton, served with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers from 1975 to 2005 and was Colonel from 1999 to 2011.

He has been credited for transforming the regimental presence in Lancashire, and making the headquarters and museum in Bury into institutions that are “at the heart of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the envy of other regiments”.

He said: "It is a great honour to be recognised for the charitable work I have done and I am very pleased to be able to serve Great Manchester in this appointment.

"I hope I can contribute further to the success of the Metropolitan County and support the Lieutenancy office in carrying out its duties.

"The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers has a strong history and presence in the North West and this appointment reflects well on that proud history and presence.

"This appointment confirms the high regard in which the regiment is held.

"In particular, the regiment is so pleased that one of its family has been selected for the appointment of Deputy Lieutenant in order to ensure the close ties are maintained into the future."

This month, Col Gorski accepted the sixth and final Victoria Cross famously won by the Lancashire Fusiliers a century ago following the Gallipoli landings.

Nick Bromley, the great nephew of VC winner Major Cuthbert Bromley, visited Bury's Fusilier Museum to present the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy".

He handed over the medal to Col Gorski, in advance of the "Six VC’s before breakfast exhibition" which opened on Saturday as part of the Gallipoli 100 commemorations.

The museum has two of the VCs in its collection — won by Cpl William Keneally and Cpl John Grimshaw. Last year, Lord Ashcroft kindly agreed to loan the museum three VCs from his private collection which is the largest of its kind in the world.

Col Gorski and Sarah Stevenson, museum collections officer, spent nine months trying to trace the sixth and final VC and has now been loaned by the family for the exhibition.

In 2006 Col Gorksi was a member of the party which greeted the Duke of Kent when he visited Bury to attend a fund raising lunch in aid of the Fusiliers Museum.

Col Gorski gave a short presentation to civic guests and supporters of the appeal on the museum project.

The current Lord Lieutenant — Warren Smith — was appointed in 2007. Those appointed are said to have been "chosen for their endeavours over many years working to enhance the fabric of Greater Manchester".