Six new Deputy Lieutenants have been appointed with Her Majesty The Queen’s agreement by the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, The Lord Crathorne KCVO. The County is the largest Lieutenancy area in the country and the Deputy Lieutenants act as the eyes and ears of the Lieutenancy and help the Lord-Lieutenant in his role as H.M. The Queen’s official representative. The Deputy Lieutenants are well spread geographically and are drawn from different disciplines and backgrounds. What they all have in common is that they are involved with voluntary work of all kinds in the County.

On this occasion, four men and two women have been appointed. They are listed alphabetically with a brief reference to just some of their achievements and activities. This brings the total number of Deputy Lieutenants in North Yorkshire to 52. The number allowed is based on the population of the Lieutenancy area.

Chris Blundell of Thirsk is a livestock farmer and has a chain of award winning village inns. Prior to that he had a successful commercial career as a director with Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc. He is a Trustee and Gardens Adviser at the RHS Harlow Carr Harrogate, a Director of Ampleforth Abbey Trading Ltd and supports many local and national charities.

Bill Cowling of Harrogate is a livestock and arable farmer. He became Honorary Show Director of the Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live in 2005, a role he has carried out with great success. Prior to that he was a Trustee of Yorkshire Agricultural Society. He has been on the Regional Committee of the National Trust for 12 years and was for 10 years on the BBC’s Regional Audience Council.

Barry Dodd CBE of Thormanby, York is Founder and Chairman of GSM Group Ltd. The Global Service and Manufacturing Group now has bases in the UK, Germany and China. GSM is within the top 50 fastest growing privately owned companies in the UK. He is Chairman of York and North Yorkshire with East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, which promotes the growth of businesses in the area. He is Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Hull. He devotes part of each week to undertaking charity work.

Rosalind Forbes Adam of Selby is Founder and Chair of Hagge Woods Trust. She is a member of the National Gardens Scheme and hosts charitable events in aid of RAPt (Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners’ Trust), Selby Abbey, Friends of York City Art Gallery, Hope and Homes for Children, Opera North and St Helen’s Church Fete.

Brigadier David Madden of Leyburn has had a distinguished military career ending up as Brigadier and Commandant of the School of Infantry. For two years (2008 – 10) he was based at Imphal Barracks, York as Commander of 15 (North East) Brigade. Prior to that he was the Commanding Officer 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards (2000 – 02). He was Deputy Commander of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan (2011). He is Governor of Queen Margaret’s School and a supporter of numerous military charities including The Soldiers’ Charity and SSAFA.

Venetia Wrigley of Scarborough runs the Ganton Estate. Prior to this she worked in the holiday sector for Serenissima Travel and Abercrombie and Kent. Until recently she was a Governor of Tring Park School. She hosts charitable events for RAPt (Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners’ Trust), Opera North, Elizabeth Finn Care, St Nicholas’s Church Ganton, the Middleton Hunt and fundraises for Macmillan Cancer Support on the Charity Raceday at York each year.

For further information about the Lieutenancy and a list of Deputy Lieutenants visit the Lord Lieutenant’s website www.nyll.org.uk or contact the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, The Lord Crathorne KCVO at james.crathorne@btconnect.com telephone 01642 700431. Or contact The Clerk to the Lieutenancy at County Hall via amanda.fry@northyorks.gov.uk telephone 01609 532444.