Helen Wood was appointed Speaker’s Secretary on the election of Sir Lindsay Hoyle as the 158th Speaker of the House of Commons. The pair had previously worked together when Sir Lindsay, as Chairman of Ways and Means, became chair of the Consultative Panel on Parliamentary Security in 2015 and Helen took on the role of the Panel’s secretary at a critical time for the security of the parliamentary community. They continue to be involved in overseeing security for the House of Commons.

From providing informal clerical help in the 1660s to supporting the implementation of virtual participation in the Chamber during the COVID pandemic of 2020, the role of the Speaker’s Secretary has grown over the last four centuries. I was delighted to capture Helen on location at the House of Parliament last month.

Historically, the Speaker had sole discretion over the appointment of their Secretary – and Secretaries remained closely linked with their Speaker. Family connections between the two were not uncommon.

While Secretaries would often quit the Speaker’s Office on the retirement of the Speaker, there was no imperative for them to go. Edward Gully was appointed to the Secretariat in 1895 by his father, the Speaker William Gully, and was then reappointed by the next Speaker, James Lowther in 1905.

The best-known Speaker’s Secretary was John Rickman, who served Speaker Charles Abbot for 12 years from 1802 and is best remembered for being the originator of the census in England at the end of the 18th century, helping both to draft the bill and the procedures for it.

Throughout my career I have been commissioned to photograph a great deal of Political Portraiture. From local councillors to MP’s, Members of the House of Lords and even Prime Ministers.

Working between London, UK, New York City and Los Angeles, California. Rory Lewis Photographer Presents unique Portraiture using ‘direction’ and inventive ‘scenarios’. Rory easily encourages sitters to express themselves, creating natural, thought provoking portraits. Offering his services to a wide variety of clients from Royalty, to former Prime Minsters, Hollywood Stars and members of The Armed Forces. Rory is available throughout the year for portrait sittings in Central London & Leeds and Liverpool, and several times a year in New York and Los Angeles, California.