Deputy Lieutenants
The Lord-Lieutenant appoints Deputy Lieutenants to assist her, and appoints one of these as the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, to undertake duties as the Lord-Lieutenant determines, and to represent her when she is absent or otherwise unable to act.
Deputy Lieutenants are widely representative of the county in many respects including location, gender, social range and service, particularly voluntary service within the community.
There are currently 48 Deputy Lieutenants who assist the Lord-Lieutenant.
Vice Lord-Lieutenant
Michael Gurney
Michael Gurney was appointed as Vice Lord-Lieutenant on 16 November 2023. Born in 1954 Michael lives on the family farm in North Norfolk near Cromer. He served in the Blues and Royals for 13 years and then worked in advertising and marketing including 23 years with the Point Agency in Norwich.
He has been a trustee of the Norfolk Community Foundation, served on the Norwich Diocese Board of Finance; a board member of Norwich4jobs and on the Advisory Board of Norwich Business School.
Michael served as High Sheriff of Norfolk 2021/22 and sits on the High Sheriff Association Council and the Employment Advisory Board of HMP Norwich. He is Patron of St Martin’s Housing Trust.
Lady Agnew
Clare Agnew (nee Buxton) was born in Cley Mill in 1960, she was brought up at Horsey and now lives in East Somerton. She has been a volunteer for Citizens Advice for the last 15 years. She is involved with various charities including Norfolk Churches Trust, Community Chaplaincy Norfolk (mentors for prisoners as they are released, where she was a Trustee), Centre 81 (helping disabled people in Yarmouth, where she is a patron), Home Start Norfolk (mentors to help families of young children, where she is a patron) and helps produce hot dinners at Pathway in Yarmouth and parcels for the Mary Magdalen foodbank in Gorleston. She was High Sheriff of Norfolk in 2019/20. She loves gardening
Colonel James Athill
Jamie Athill was born at Ditchingham in 1956 and raised at Morston. Joining the Army in 1975, he was commissioned into the Royal Green Jackets and served in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and South-East Asia before retiring in 2011. He was chair of Norfolk’s
Reserve Forces and Cadets Association 2011 – 2021 and was a trustee of Veterans Norfolk. He lives near North Walsham and enjoys the sea, the countryside and books.
Sir Nicholas Bacon Bt. KCVO OBE
Lives with his family in Norfolk.
Chair of The Queen’s Green Canopy, The Royal Agricultural Society of The Commonwealth and Plant Health Alliance, together with many Norfolk voluntary involvements including Norwich Cathedral, The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, Easton College, Norfolk PACT and The University of East Anglia.
Lord Warden of the Stannaries for the Duchy of Cornwall 2006-2022.
President of the RHS 2013-2020.
High Sheriff of Norfolk 2005
Paris Back
Paris Back grew up in Norfolk and lives in Bergh Apton. She is a retired primary school teacher specialising in helping dyslexic children. She is on the PCC and a school governor of Alpington and Bergh Apton CE VA primary school
She is team leader and fund raiser for Read Easy Norfolk supporting adults in developing their reading skills, with Lady Dannatt MBE as Patron. Paris runs an annual fundraising event at her home supporting a different local charity each year. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, reading, theatre and the arts.
Rose Barnes
Rose Barnes was born in Kenya, brought up in Dublin and arrived in Norfolk in 1983. She worked as a GP in south Norfolk between 1987 and 2017. Since her retirement she has acted as both a trustee and a volunteer for St Martins, a charity that works to reduce homelessness in Norfolk. She also volunteers at the Norfolk Reading Project to support children in school with their reading skills. She enjoys time with family and friends and walking in the Norfolk countryside.
Alex Bartram
Mrs Alex Bartram was born in Norwich in 1965 and now lives near Dereham.
Alex is a psychotherapeutic counsellor with a private practice in mid-Norfolk. She spent 25 years working for the sail training charity, The Norfolk Boat, and has also volunteered with Cruse Bereavement and St Barnabas Counselling Centre in Norwich. She is a Trustee of The Norfolk Boat, The Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust, and The Red Sock Charitable Trust, and serves as a mental health adviser for YANA, the rural mental health charity. In her spare time, Alex enjoys playing tennis, skiing, and walking with her family along the North Norfolk coast, where she spent her childhood.
Louis Baugh
Mr Louis Baugh lives and farms in Neatishead and was born in Yorkshire in 1955. Louis is a Nuffield Scholar and has served as a trustee of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and the breed society Holstein UK.
He served until his retirement in 2020 on the Broads Authority Board.
He is Honorary Life Vice President of the Norfolk Federation of Young Farmers clubs and the Royal Norfolk Show education section Head Steward.
He enjoys walking and clay pigeon shooting.
Mary Bolton
Mary, educated in Edinburgh and Oxford, worked in the wine trade and development aid before moving to Norfolk in 1989. She raised five children and has a strong interest in agriculture and the food industry. Her voluntary work focuses on helping disadvantaged children and supporting community life. She is the Lead Ambassador for Cambridge Children’s Hospital in Norfolk.
Mary enjoys cooking, gardening, and visual arts.
Carol Bundock
Carol Bundock has lived in Norfolk for more than 50 years. After a long career as a journalist and presenter for BBC Look East, Carol became a Civil Funeral Celebrant. She is the former President of Girlguiding Norfolk, a patron of Nelson’s Journey and a vice patron of the Norfolk Community Foundation. She is a devoted granny, cocker spaniel owner and enthusiastic potter. Carol is passionate about the Arts, and loves ballet in particular. She loves to read, to cook and to birdwatch.
Kathryn Buscall JP
Kathryn was for 16 years a Chair on the King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Bench and latterly a Trustee of Inspiration multi-academy Trust in Norfolk. She is the current High Steward of King’s Lynn Minster. She graduated from Cambridge University in 1987 with a degree in English and has a Masters from Central School of Speech and Drama.
Robert Carter
Robert Carter is Chairman of RG Carter Holdings Ltd, a privately owned group which he joined the Board in 1972 and has chaired since 1981.
Robert served for 15 years with the Prince’s Trust (King’s Trust) during which he was Trustee and Chairman of the England Council. He retired as a trustee on his appointment as High Sheriff of Norfolk in 2009 and through this role continued to pursue a lifelong interest in supporting young people. In 2015 Robert was appointed as President of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association and was the inaugural Chairman of the Food Farming and Discovery Trust. Robert chaired the Trustees of the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Appeal which raised the funds and built a new 24 bed hospice which was opened by His Majesty the King on the 26th October 2023. The hospice was built on eight acres of land (adjacent to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital) which was given by Robert Carter to mark the centenary of his company. The RG Carter Group has a long history of ‘in house’ vocational training and currently employs over 80 craft and management apprentices throughout the Eastern Region.
Henry Cator OBE
Mr Henry Cator was made High Steward of Great Yarmouth in 2013 where he now chairs The Town Board and is closely involved with a number of the heritage restoration projects in the town. Henry is Chairman of the Norwich Cathedral Trust and the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance at the County Council. He is president of the Association of Drainage Authorities. He was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2008 for his services to the community.
Jane Cator
Mrs Jane Cator lives in Ranworth and runs the family farm and moorings business. She is a long term member of the PCC for St Helen’s of Ranworth which is known as The Cathedral of the broads. She is a trustee for the Ranworth Trust, which she took on from her late husband Charles and has recently become an ambassador to raise funds to build a dedicated Cambridge Children’s Hospital for the East of England. Jane’s interests are conservation, walking and grandchildren.
David Cholmondeley KCVO
David Cholmondeley lives at Houghton Hall in Norfolk with his family. He is a Former Lord Great Chamberlain of England, Patron of Friends of Norwich Museums and Trustee of the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts
Thomas Courtauld JP
Thomas Courtauld lives in North Norfolk where, as a qualified rural surveyor, he manages property and farms. He is involved in a number of organisations and charities in Norfolk, including being a member of the Norwich Diocese Glebe committee, a governor of the Second Air Division memorial library in Norwich, a magistrate on the Norwich bench, a committee member and ex chair of the East Anglian branch of the Royal Forestry Society and a church warden and PCC member in the Matlaske benefice. He enjoys sailing on the coast and is an enthusiastic participant in various sporting activities.
Charlotte Crawley
Born in 1953 and brought up in Norwich, Charlotte has lived near Holt with her husband Henry for the last 40 years. Charlotte is a retired art curator and still works as an Art Historian giving lectures and helping to raise money for the visual arts. Charlotte is a Trustee of the East Anglia Art Fund. She was a Theatre Royal Trustee for 12 years and also chaired the Norfolk & Norwich Festival Trustees. A Parish Councillor for many years, Charlotte is also a Church Warden and involved with a variety of Norfolk charities.
In her spare time, Charlotte enjoys tennis, travelling, opera, cooking and learning Spanish.
Major General Sir William Cubitt KCVO CBE
William Cubitt served in the Army from 1977 to 2011 and has run his family’s farming business near North Walsham since then. He has been High Sheriff of Norfolk, County Chairman of the Country Land and Business Association, County President of the Royal British Legion and Chairman of the East Anglian Air Ambulance. He is a Church Warden of Honing and Crostwight churches and President of the Stalham Farmers’ Club. His main interests are his family and home, countryside and wildlife, and military matters including veterans.
Anna Dugdale
Anna Dugdale lives in North Norfolk and is a full time Chairman and Non-Executive Director with G’s Group, one of Europe’s largest family-owned farming and fresh produce businesses. Prior to her current role Anna was Group Chief Executive with RG Carter Group supporting the family on intergenerational transition and prior to that she was Chief Executive of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. She was instrumental in the founding of the current Norwich Research Park structure and the development of the campus and establishment and development of the Quadrum Institute on the NRP. She was a founding Trustee of Priscilla Bacon Norfolk Hospice Care which was set up to build a new specialist palliative care hospice for Norfolk. Anna is a Trustee of Linking Environment and Farming – a national charity dedicated to promoting more sustainable farming and creating a resilient food and farming system for future generations and working with young people across the country. She is a Governor of Gresham’s School and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at UEA.
Sara Foster
Sara Foster moved to Norfolk in 1983 and lives near Swaffham. She is on the Board of the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich, a church warden and a past Chairman of The Norfolk Churches Trust. Her interests include all aspects of the visual arts and gardening.
David Flux
David lives in West Norfolk, where he is Senior Partner in his family’s insurance broking business, founded by his late father in 1973. He is actively involved in local life, serving as Trustee of Open Road West Norfolk, Director of Festival Too, and Patron of the Joe Dix Foundation, Norfolk Accident Rescue Service, and Holt Youth Project.
He supports rural and conservation causes as a Vice President of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and a supporter of The Royal Countryside Fund.
David served as High Sheriff of Norfolk in 2024–2025. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling, the countryside, and fly fishing.
Ines Grote
Ines Graefin Grote came to Norfolk in 1987. She is a mother to three grown-up sons and has worked in education for 12 years. In 2019, she qualified as a coach and mentor for ‘People with Neurodiversity in the Workplace’, and is also a specialist in dyslexia for children and adults.
For a number of years, she has been involved with the local PCC and is now a church warden for her local church. She has served as a governor of 3 Great Yarmouth Primary Schools. She has represented the Great Yarmouth and Waveney community as a public governor of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital since 2008. As a trustee, she has recently become involved in the charity ‘Feathers Futures’ which supports women with complex needs. Ines lives near Winterton-on-Sea and enjoys brisk walks on the beach, nature, and meeting new people.
Michael Harrowven JP
Michael has a lifelong commitment to improving education, housing, health, and the social wellbeing for all. He has always taken an active role in community life.
After a successful career in international investment management and banking, Michael chose to focus his energy on the charitable and voluntary sectors, including the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, Norfolk Scouts, the Judiciary and as an Ambassador for the Norfolk Business Board.
On behalf of The Lieutenancy, Michael leads the King’s Awards for Enterprise programme, helping Norfolk businesses and the County as a whole showcase their achievements on the global stage.
Michael continues to share his knowledge and experience to inspire individuals and boards alike by sharing his passion for making Norfolk a better place for all.
Jake Humphrey
An experienced and knowledgeable Television and Radio broadcaster, Jake Humphrey is currently the face of Champions League Football on BT Sport, having been at the forefront of much of BBC Sport’s coverage for many national and international events. He is also one of the Co-Founders of award-winning production company Whisper and Co-Host of the hugely successful High Performance Podcast. His book – High Performance, Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best, published in December 2021, is a Sunday Times bestseller.
Off screen, Jake is passionate about contributing to the community through charity work. He is Chairman of Norwich Community Sports Foundation and President of Young Lives vs Cancer.
The Reverend Matthew Hutton
Matthew Hutton was born in Norwich in 1953. Married to Annie, they have three children and three grandchildren. Matthew was brought up on the family farm at Langley which
he manages with Annie and their son David. He is a retired solicitor and spent his professional life advising, writing books and lecturing on taxation and trusts. He was ordained in 2014 as a self-supporting minister in the Church of England. Having published in 2022 Your Last Gift – Getting Your Affairs in Order, he has a particular interest in supporting people in later life. Apart from family life, Matthew’s other interests include: ending Violence Against Women and Girls (having been a Founder Trustee of the national charity Restored in 2010), helping prison leavers (having been a mentor for them and having chaired the Trustees of Community Chaplaincy Norfolk from 2019 to 2022) and supporting the homeless (being a member of the Advisory Board of St. Martin’s Housing in Norwich).
Andrew Jamieson
Andrew has combined senior executive experience in international investment banking with hands-on leadership in local government, rural enterprise and partnership-based organisations.
He is Chair of both Norfolk National Trails Partnership, responsible, inter alia, for upkeep and management of King Charles III England Coastal Path here in Norfolk and of Norfolk Coast Partnership, which manages the North Coast Protected Landscape. He has built up Drove Orchards, a diversified rural enterprise combining environmental stewardship with farming, value-added food and drink production, retail, hospitality and commercial property. Andrew is Roman Catholic with a longstanding interest in stewardship, community engagement and the role of institutions in enhancing local and cultural life.
Jonathan Jones
Jonathan Jones is a plant scientist who is passionate about wise deployment of modern genetic methods to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture. Born in London and with degrees from Cambridge, he returned to the UK in 1988 after 8 years in the US to lead a research group at the Sainsbury Laboratory on the Norwich Research Park. He is a leading researcher on how plants resist disease and has developed potato varieties that resist the late blight pathogen which caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s. When not working or grandparenting, he can be found ineptly racing Laser sailing dinghies on Oulton Broad.
Caroline Jarrold
Caroline Jarrold lives in Mundham and was born in Norwich. She has worked for Jarrold & Sons Ltd for over 35 years and is currently Community Affairs Adviser and a Non-Executive Director of the company. She is Secretary to and a Trustee of The John Jarrold Trust. She chairs the Norwich & District Funders’ Forum, Norwich Philharmonic Society and Cox’s Boatyard at Barton Turf. She is also a Non-Executive Director of The Forum Trust and a trustee of several other charities. Caroline is currently The Sheriff of Norwich (May 2021 – May 2023)
In her spare time she especially enjoys sailing on the Norfolk Broads and singing in Norwich Philharmonic Society.
Victoria Keith
Victoria Keith lives near Dereham, a Yorkshire girl married to a Norfolk farmer with a large family. Previously a school governor, she is now involved with Young Arts in North Norfolk as a member of the North West Norfolk Arts Society. She is on the Education committee for the Worshipful Company of Farmers. She works with a number of local charities. Graduating with a science degree, she worked in marketing and advertising with two large agricultural and pharmaceutical companies and subsequently ran several smaller enterprises.
Her key interests are animals and wildlife, theatre, music and arts, and her garden which is open for charity.
Sir Norman Lamb
Norman was Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk from 2001-2019 and served as a Health Minister in the Coalition Government from 2012-2015. In 2019, Norman became Chair of the Advisory Board of Kooth, the longest established digital mental health provider in the UK, and received a knighthood for his mental health campaigning.
Since leaving Parliament, Norman has established a Norfolk mental health and wellbeing fund and was Chair of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust for 5 years.
The Earl of Leicester
Tom Coke succeeded to the title of Earl of Leicester in May 2015. After an History of Art Degree at Manchester he held a commission in the Scots Guards from 1988-93. He has been actively involved in managing the Holkham estate since 1993 and has overseen the diversification of the estate away from its dependence on agriculture and forestry toward leisure, tourism and property development.
He married his wife Polly in 1996 and they have four children. They have lived in Holkham Hall since 2007. Lord Leicester’s interests include the great outdoors, especially cycling and running, skiing, heritage, forestry, conservation and country sports.
Lieutenant Colonel Ian Lonsdale TD
Ian Lonsdale was born in Norwich in 1957 and lives in Harling. He served in both the Regular and Reserve Army between 1978 and 2018 and worked for Brown & Co, Chartered Surveyors and Property Professionals, based in Norwich; retiring in 2022.
Amongst his voluntary roles Ian is a Chairman of The Valuation Tribunal for England; a Trustee of Norfolk Churches Trust, Hungate Medieval Art, Norwich and Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum. He was awarded the TD in 2005. Primary interests include Equestrian sports; Shooting; Fishing; Orienteering; Nordic Skiing; Sporting Art and Church architecture and artefacts.
Claire Mackintosh MBE
Claire was raised in Norfolk and returned to the county after a 25‑year period pursuing an international career that included living and working in Japan and Russia. Claire has served as Chief Executive of the Norfolk Community Foundation since 2018. In this role, she has led significant cross‑sector programmes focused on strengthening communities and building a more resilient Norfolk.
Alongside her executive responsibilities, Claire has contributed extensively in voluntary and non‑executive roles. These include serving as a Board Member of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Chair of the New Anglia Skills Advisory Panel, a member of the Thetford Neighbourhood Board, and a Governor of The Hewett School. Throughout her career, Claire has maintained a strong commitment to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to enjoy the best possible start in life, an ambition that continues to guide both her professional work and wider community involvement.
David McLeavy Hill
David was born in Norwich and grew up in Norfolk. He trained as a Solicitor and worked at a law firm in the City of London before joining an investment bank and then establishing his own banking business. David and his family returned to Norfolk in 1995 and he has been Executive Chairman of Jarrold & Sons Ltd since 2002.
David is an independent member on the UEA Estates Committee, a Trustee of the John Innes Foundation, a Governor of the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library and an Honorary Squadron Commander at RAF Mildenhall. David has held various other roles in Norfolk including Deputy Chair of the UEA Council, Chair of Norwich HEART, Chair of the Norwich Playhouse Theatre and Trustee of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association.
Anna Mudeka
Anna, originally from Harare, Zimbabwe, moved to Norwich in 1994 and now lives near Dereham. She founded Tambai Promotions, sharing her African heritage across the UK through various platforms. An accomplished musician and actress, Anna has toured solo shows and collaborated with renowned artists. Her accolades include awards from CEO magazine, Norfolk Arts Awards, Euroknowledge, and Wymondham High School. She is a Trustee of Norwich Theatre, part of the Norfolk Black History Month Committee, and Artistic Director of The African Community Choir of Norfolk. Anna also founded The Mudeka Foundation, supporting education in Zimbabwe. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, walking, paddle boarding, fitness, and family time.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Nicholas MBE
Mark was born in Norwich in 1976. He studied at UEA and King’s College London. Until 2016 Mark served in the British Army.
Mark is currently Managing Director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association which promotes and supports food production, farming and the countryside in Norfolk. He is a trustee of the Food & Farming Discovery Trust, Royal Norfolk Regiment Association and Museum and, until 2023, he was Chairman of the Board of Governors Langley School. Mark and his family live in Holt.
Julia Nix OBE
Julia Nix was born in Kings Lynn and has always lived in and around the West Norfolk area. Julia has worked for the Department for Work and Pensions for 40 years and has been District Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk Jobcentre Plus since 2012. She has always been passionate about social justice and developed many external partnerships including being a member of HMPs Norwich and Wayland Employment Advisory Boards, the Community Chaplaincy Norfolk Advisory Forum, a King’s Trust Ambassador and a trustee for New U Enterprises Ltd. Julia was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours 2017 for services to tackling youth unemployment in East Anglia and awarded a UEA honorary doctorate in 2019.
Patrick Peal MBE
Mr Patrick Peal lives in Southrepps and was born in Norwich in 1954. Patrick retired in 2021 as Chief Executive of the East Anglian Air Ambulance which he co-founded. He is Chairman of Healthwatch Norfolk, which provides an independent voice for patient groups in Norfolk. He was awarded the MBE in June 2022. He enjoys outdoor pursuits in Norfolk.
Jo Pearson
Jo, born and bred a Thetford man has lived his life in the Town he loves and spent 30 years building the family business to become a leading recycling company. Jo now runs the family property group and sits on several Boards. Jo is a Member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and is an advisor to Quercus Corporate Finance LLP. He is Chair of Trustees Open Road Norfolk and Chairs the new Thetford Pride in Place Board. Vice Chair of Thetford Business Forum, Trustee-Thetford Educational Foundation Trust, Trustee -Dads Army Museum, (retired Vice Chair of both Norfolk Community Foundation and ZSEA-Zoological Society East Anglia). Jo is Currently looking forward to his new role as High Sheriff of Norfolk in March 2026 and he and his wife Mandy are often seen out and about in the Norfolk countryside and coast and watching Norwich City at Carrow Road.
Nicholas Pratt
Born in 1958, Nick farms in Southwest Norfolk. He was High Sheriff of Norfolk 2015/16 and was a
trustee of the Norfolk Community Foundation 2016-2022. Nick was a past Chairman of the Norfolk Game and Wildlife Conservancy Trust
He is a trustee of Kings Lynn Minster and a committee member on the Ely Diocesan Board of Finance for Asset Management
Nick is also Chairman of the Stoke Ferry Internal Drainage Board and Vice Chairman of Southery Group of Internal Drainage Boards.
Marian Prinsley
Marian was born in South Africa and brought up in Swaziland until the age 14, after which she attended school in the UK. She trained as an Educational Psychologist in 1983 and has worked in this capacity since. On moving to Norfolk in 1996, she became an active member of the Norwich Hebrew Congregation, serving as President between 2015 and 2018. She is passionate about interfaith activities and works hard to further the cause of religious tolerance. Marian was elected Sheriff of Norwich in 2019, and was honoured to serve two years, 2019 to 2021.
Georgie Roberts
For the last 30 years Georgie Roberts has managed the woodland and properties of the Cockley Cley estate. She was Chairman of the Norfolk branch of the CLA in 2007 and on the CLA’s national policy committee. She is also a committee member of the International Dendrology Society.
She volunteered at Trinity House hospice in London and Georgie is now the Deputy Coordinator at the Swaffham and Litcham home hospice where she has volunteered since 2002.She was High Sheriff of Norfolk in 2020-21 and is now a Trustee at Open Road in Kings Lynn.
Cici Romney
Cici Romney is a partner in the family farming business, since coming to live in West Norfolk in 1975. Associated with numerous local organisations and charities, she has been a Trustee of Westacre Theatre and Director of Fine Art Commissions. She is a volunteer bereavement councillor at Tapping House Hospice. Vice Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk from 2012 to 2020
Mary Rudd
Mary Rudd lives in Shipdham, was born in Norfolk in 1956 and grew up in a farming family.Mary worked in public relations and later ran her own business for over 20 years with clients across the country.
She was a Lay Canon on the Dean and Chapter for seven years and a trustee for a number of different charities including the Community Foundation and the Assembly House. She enjoys gardening, growing many of their own vegetables.
Nigel Savory
Nigel is a Chartered Accountant who specialised in agriculture and rural business. He lives near Fakenham.
He is now retired from professional practice and helps a number of local businesses and charities. He is a trustee of The R C Snelling Charitable Trust, The Norfolk Rivers Trust, Whitlingham Country Park, and Music in Country Churches. He is a Director of Fakenham Racecourse and is currently Vice President of The Aylsham Show. Previously he was High Sheriff of Norfolk in 2006/7 Chairman of The A F Group from 2016-2022.
Ben Stocks
Ben lives in Ringstead and has been Chief Executive Officer of Porvair plc, an international manufacturing company with headquarters in Kings Lynn, since 1997. He is also Senior Independent Director of the Aerospace Technology Institute. He has degrees from St Andrew’s University and INSEAD. He has been a school governor, and Trustee of a number of charities including Friends of St Andrews Ringstead. Keen on sport, Ben has been Captain of the Royal West Norfolk Golf Club and Commodore of the Brancaster Staithe Sailing Club. His spare time is devoted to trying to stay ahead of his garden.
Philippa Taylor
Mrs Philippa Taylor is a partner in a Norfolk farming business, she previously served as president for the Harleston Magpies Hockey Club, and is still actively involved in the week to week running of the club. She is the local president of St John Ambulance. Philippa has a successful flower arranging business and in her spare time she is very keen gardener and fisherwomen.
Clare Whelan OBE
Clare lives near Dereham. Her voluntary roles include The Gloucester 1682 Trust, Norfolk Citizens Advice and raising funds for the local church. Before returning to her native Norfolk she was for many years an elected councillor in London and served on the national cross-party Local Government Association. She was Chair of the London Mayors Association was appointed an OBE for services to local government in 2013. Her ‘day jobs’ were in publishing and then at Westminster with politicians and the policy world. In her spare time Clare enjoys organising concerts locally, learning to fly and to play the saxophone.
Dr. Andy Wood OBE
Dr Andy Wood OBE is Chair of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest NHS organisations in the country. He also serves as Chair of Norse Group and East Coast Community Healthcare CIC, and as Non-Executive Chair of SG Wealth Management. He is a Non-Executive Director of Roys (Wroxham) Ltd and Chair of Governors at Norwich School.
With over 30 years’ leadership experience, Andy is recognised for combining commercial performance with social purpose. He was Chief Executive of Adnams plc for over a decade and founded the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership in 2010.
He was awarded an OBE in 2013 for services to business and the community and holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Cranfield University, alongside several honorary doctorates.
Han Yang Yap
Han Yang Yap qualified and worked as a solicitor in Singapore, Hong Kong and the UK. Before moving to Norfolk, he was the General Counsel of Reuters based in Hong Kong. After a career in law, he obtained a Masters degree in Art History and worked briefly in School of Oriental and African Studies as a tutor in Chinese Art. Until 2021, he sat on the Board of Trustees of the Theatre Royal Norwich with a particular focus on development work. He is currently a Patron of Norfolk and Waveney Mind.