Sarah Clarke

Dame Sarah Davina Clarke (born 12 October 1965) is a British administrator. From 13 February 2018 to 8 July 2025, she served as Black Rod, the first female Black Rod in the 650-year history of the role. During her tenure, the role was formally styled "The Lady Usher of the Black Rod"; for previous incumbents, "The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod" was used. She was also the first woman to hold the accompanying posts of Serjeant-at-Arms for the House of Lords, Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and to be appointed an Officer of the Order of the Garter.

Before taking this role, she was Championships Director in charge of the administration of The Championships, Wimbledon. She was the first woman to hold this post and the first woman to be a Grand Slam Tournament Director.

On 11 June 2022, she made a rare public speaking appearance in Liverpool, England to address the Annual Meeting of the Women's Institute.

Early life and education Clarke was born on 12 October 1965 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. She was educated at Wolverhampton Girls' High School, a grammar school in Wolverhampton: it was also the school of the first Speaker of the House of Lords, Baroness Hayman. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Science and Business Studies (1988) from the Roehampton Institute of Higher Education (now the University of Roehampton), a Certificate in Marketing (1993) from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and a Master of Science degree in Risk Crisis and Disaster Management (2005) from the University of Leicester. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Wolverhampton in 2018.

Black Rod

Clarke was appointed Black Rod in November 2017 She is the first female Black Rod, the post previously having been filled by retired senior officers; she is also the first non-military appointment for almost 200 years.

Clarke headed a department of thirty that plays a significant part in the House of Lords Administration's "front of house" delivery to members and the public, with a key role in the day-to-day running of the House's sittings.

In addition, she was responsible for the organisation and delivery of ceremonial events, such as State Opening and state visits to Westminster and for the daily administration of the King's residual estate in the Palace of Westminster including the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft, the Robing Room and the Royal Gallery. There are also many annual one-off events, which the department delivers each year.

She was Chair of the Bicameral Parliamentary Business Resilience Board from 2020.

As a central contact point for members of the House during the day-to-day business, the department has responsibility for facilitating and controlling access to the Chamber and the precincts of the House and maintaining order within them. It also plays a leading part in business resilience. It works closely with the Clerks, Security Department, Facilities Department and the R&R teams, as well as external partners where relevant.

In February 2025, she announced that she would be retiring from the role of Black Rod later that year, after a "most extraordinary" seven-and-a-half years in post. On 29 April 2025, Lt Gen Ed Davis was confirmed as the next Black Rod; he officially succeeded her on 8 July 2025.

Honours Clarke was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2018 Birthday Honours "for services to sports administration". She later was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2023 Demise Honours “for services to the Lying‑in‑State of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”. In the 2026 New Year Honours, Clarke was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (DCB) "for services to parliament".