PROFESSOR George Holmes — vice chancellor of the University of Bolton — has been 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 Prof Holmes will undertake official and ceremonial duties on behalf of the Greater Manchester Lieutenancy.

The new role for the vice chancellor follows on from his decision to relocate to Bolton and "reflects his influential position in Bolton and Greater Manchester", the university said.

A spokesman for the university added that it was also recognition of his "commitment to serving the local community and the university and to the wider community of Bolton and beyond".

Prof Holmes said: "Being able to contribute to the work of Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant's office is a great privilege.

"I feel honoured to have been chosen. I will do my utmost to properly discharge the duties laid upon me and to serve the community to the very best of my abilities."

The Right Revd Nigel McCulloch, chair of the governing body, said: "I am delighted that the vice chancellor has been made a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

"This is further recognition of the significance of his contribution to Bolton and the county, and the increasingly influential role of the University of Bolton under his leadership within and beyond the local community."

The current Lord Lieutenant — Warren Smith — was appointed in 2007 and already has close links with Bolton and the university.

In 2011 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of Bolton by Prof Holmes in recognition of his contribution to civic society.

And in 2013, he was present in 2013 when the Princess Royal was in town to visit Bolton One — the £31 million health, leisure and research centre built in partnership between the university, the NHS and Bolton Council.

The Princess Royal was met by the Lord Lieutenant and introduced to the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton and the leader of the council, Cllr Cliff Morris, before being shown around the centre by Prof Holmes.

Prof Holmes announced his intention to move with his family from Wakefield to the local area in November last year, saying it would allow him “to play a greater role in the affairs of our town and its university”.

He was given a bridging loan of almost £1 million by the university to fund his move to the borough.

The university said the loan meant Prof Holmes, who has been head of the university since 2006, could move to the area at a time which was most beneficial to the university.

The loan will be paid off once his home in Yorkshire is sold.

University chiefs said the loan would also help keep Prof Holmes as head of the University of Bolton.

The university chief has also this year unveiled plans for a new £40 million student village accommodating up to 850 students in flats set to be built on Cheadle Square next to Le Mans Crescent.