A Cornishman, born and brought up in Penzance, Edward Bolitho joined the Grenadier Guards in 1978 after gaining a degree in Land Economy at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
He served with them all other the world and commanded the 1st Battalion in 1993-1995, during which time he was awarded the OBE. He was later Regimental Lieutenant Colonel and, until 2017, a Regimental Trustee.
Having left the Army in 1998, he returned to Cornwall to run the Bolitho Estates on behalf of the wider family. Based in West Cornwall, these businesses rent out, renovate and develop farms, commercial and residential properties. In doing so, they have a strong conservation ethos and also seek to retain and strengthen local communities and businesses. They also manage various leisure activities including Trewidden Garden and Trengwainton Garden (in partnership with the National Trust).
Having been a Deputy Lieutenant since 2008, Colonel Edward Bolitho was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in September 2011 on the retirement of the late Lady Mary Holborow. At the time of his appointment, he was also High Sheriff of Cornwall.
In 2008, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall. In the same year he became a member of The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, Her Majesty The Queen’s (now His Majesty the King’s) “Nearest Guard”, of which he is now Clerk to the Cheque and Adjutant. In 2011 he was appointed High Sheriff, later that year becoming Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on the retirement of the late Lady Mary Holborow. Since 2018 he has been Chairman of the Association of Lord-Lieutenants.
Already closely involved in rural affairs and passionately interested in Cornwall, since becoming Lord-Lieutenant, he has become further involved in a wide range of business and voluntary sector organisations. He has an official role in more than 40 organisations (details of them can be found here) and is involved with many more. These range from community welfare, agriculture, the judiciary, the military, conservation & heritage and youth organisations, to education and the church. In 2020 he was appointed a Bard of Gorsedh Kernow, taking the Bardic name of Lyskannas Rag Kernow.
Edward is married to Alexandra, who is also much involved in Cornish life, particularly through her work with a variety of voluntary organisations including Marie Curie Cornwall, the National Maritime Museum Falmouth and the Cornwall Historic Churches Trust. They have twin daughters and a son, all working away from Cornwall at present, two grandchildren and a large number of dependent animals.
The Lieutenancy
The Lord-Lieutenant is supported by a Vice Lord-Lieutenant and by Deputy Lieutenants, who he appoints from people who have rendered particular service to the county in a variety of ways.
In addition, Cornwall Council provides a considerable amount of administrative support and the Council’s Chief Executive is also Clerk to the Lieutenancy.
James Williams Vice Lord-Lieutenant
James Williams was born in Cornwall in August 1950, and grew up at Tregullow, near Redruth.
He has served on the Prince’s Council since 2009. The Council oversees on behalf of HRH the Duke of Cornwall the management and the strategy of the Duchy with its widespread interests in Cornwall and beyond.
Beyond Cornwall, he is a Trustee of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, and serves as Chairman of an investment company, publicly quoted on the London Stock Exchange. Before returning to Cornwall in 2002 he worked in investment management in London, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States.
He is married to Sarah, and they have three sons. His interests include rearing pedigree Red Ruby Devon cattle, long distance walking, and history.
Deputy Lieutenants
Viscount Falmouth DL
Viscount Falmouth’s family have been running the Tregothnan Estate for 700 years. It is a working Estate that currently grows and supplies fine teas, herbal infusions, honey and flowers, Tea Shop and holiday cottages. As well as being Chairman of the Estate, Chairman of Goonvean Holdings Ltd and Chairman of St Michael Parish Council, Viscount Falmouth is also the Patron of Truro Sea Cadets and President of Young People Cornwall. High Sheriff of Cornwall 2007.
Gaynor Coley DL
Gay lives in Wadebridge and is passionate about doing good through good business and education. She trained as a Chartered Accountant in the City, moving to KPMG in Cornwall then becoming the first Finance Director of the University of Plymouth.
In 1997 she joined the Eden Project leading the £140m funding. As MD for 13 years she pioneered local sourcing and recruitment and public engagement with environmental issues. Director of Public Programmes at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew followed, and she now Chairs the board at The Wave, Bristol.
She is a Non-Executive Director of Investment Company PLCs and has served on many boards, including Cornwall College, the LEP, Broadreach and Sowenna.
Kim Conchie DL
Kim has been CEO of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce since April 2012. His visionary yet highly pragmatic approach has seen him develop the Chamber into an organisation that is firmly at the forefront of Cornwall’s business community. Kim is also a member of and chairs several business and education boards. Kim co-founded Navas Drinks Ltd in 2018. The company has supported the work of The Eden Trust from its formation. In November 2019, Kim was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall.
Robert Dorrien-Smith DL
Robert Dorrien-Smith is the 5th generation of his family to run the island of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly. He has spent the last 50 years managing the change from horticulture to a mixed economy of agriculture and tourism, trading as Tresco Estate. The Estate is the largest employer in the Isles of Scilly and the largest business.
In addition he has agricultural, commercial, tourism and residential interests in West Cornwall and therefore has a good understanding of the local economy.
Robert has been an elected member of the Isles of Scilly Council for many years and served on many Committees.
Robert has spent his working life trying to either maintain or improve the quality of life in Scilly and anticipates continuing to do so in the future.
Jane Hartley DL
Jane Hartley is married to Robert with three grown up daughters. They have a holiday Park at Holywell Bay, North coast of Cornwall.
Jane really loves Cornwall and therefore wants to try and make it a great place for everyone to live. She Chairs Cornwall Community Foundation and the Cornwall Christmas fair and the Albert Van den Bergh charitable trust. She was previously High Sheriff of Cornwall, working hard to support mental health for young people.
Kate Holborow DL
Born and brought up in Cornwall, Kate is founder of Wild Card a PR and communications consultancy with offices in Truro, Bristol and London. She is co-chair of the annual Cornwall Christmas Fair at Eden and sits on the panel for Young & Talented Cornwall, The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund. She is on the board of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 2020.
James Kitson DL
Having lived all his life in S.E. Cornwall, James retired as a Charted Accountant in 2020, He initially entered public life by being elected as an Independent County Councillor in 1977 and ever since has been involved in a wide range of local charities. James was High Sheriff of Cornwall in 2013 -2014.
Catherine Mead OBE DL
Catherine Mead has lived in Cornwall for 30 years and is CEO and owner of Lynher Dairies makers of Cornish Yarg Cheese; winners of supreme champion at the World Cheese Awards.
Catherine Chaired the Cornwall Agri- Food Council and is currently Chair of the Specialist Cheese Makers Association, Vice Chair of the Royal Cornwall Show and a member of the Cornwall Agri-Tech Strategic Board.
Commodore Jamie Miller CBE DL
Jamie was raised in Gibraltar, educated at Hawtreys and Gordonstoun, and served 47 years in the Royal Navy. The majority of this time was at sea in operational theatres with 5 sea commands. Highlights being the Falklands and Iraq wars plus Royal Yacht BRITANNIA Service.
Currently undertaking an assortment of consultancies. Home is in Port Isaac, married to Linda, 7 children and a continual stream of foster children (51).
Daphne Skinnard DL
Brought up in South East Cornwall, Daphne works as a manager for BBC Radio Cornwall. She is a member of Truro Cathedral Chapter, Trustee of Cornwall Community Foundation, is on the panel for Young and Talented Cornwall, The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund and a Governor at Truro and Penwith College. She is also County Patron for Cancer Research UK. She enjoys Cornwall’s impressive offering of food and drink, is interested in Cornish art, culture and sport and likes exploring the great outdoors with her family.
Professor Rob Sneyd DL
Brought up in Cornwall, medical training at Cambridge University, London, Manchester and the USA. Worked as a Consultant Anaesthetist at Derriford Hospital, mostly in neuro-anaesthesia. Until retiring in late 2018 he served as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry in Plymouth, leading schools of medicine, dentistry and biomedical science.
As Emeritus Professor he remains research active and works internationally to support the development of new medicines, in addition he is engaged in the mass vaccination programme as Medical Advisor.
The Lady Mary St Levan DL
Mary is a social worker by training and lives on St Michael’s Mount with her husband James. They run the island in partnership with the National Trust. Mary has served as a magistrate and a director of Cornwall Care and is currently the President of Cornwall Young Farmers and the Cornwall Federation of Male Voice Choirs.
James Staughton OBE DL
James worked for the family company St Austell Brewery for 40 years, the last 20 years of which was in the role of Chief Executive Officer. He is now (Honorary) President and also Chair of the St Austell Bay Economic Forum, the St Austell Town Revitalisation Partnership and the Cornwall Place Board. James has the honour of being Middle Warden of the Worshipful Company of Brewers and will be Master in July 2023
Barbara Vann PhD DL
Barbara was a Headteacher of two schools in Leicestershire and Cornwall and latterly Chair of a NHS Foundation Trust. Always focussed upon improving the life chances of children and young people, Barbara is currently Chair of Duchy Health Charity and a Patron of the Peninsula Medical School Foundation. In 2018 she received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Exeter for services to children’s mental health. Barbara is a Member of the Aspire Multi Academy Trust and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Sir Ferrers Vyvyan Bt DL
Sir Ferrers Vyvyan, Bt, DL was High Sheriff of Cornwall from 2008 to 2009 and appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall in 2010. Current owner of Trelowarren, home to the Vyvyan family for over 600 years, and now home to Sir Ferrers, Lady Vyvyan and their five sons.
A dedicated environmentalist, Sir Ferrers runs Trelowarren as a working estate, with the emphasis on energy conservation, reducing emissions and using sustainable resources, with focus on restoring the complex ecological systems. Plans for the estate include the restoration of the gardens to the 18th century landscape plan drawn up by Dionysus Williams.
Sir Ferrers was Chairman of the Royal Institute of Cornwall; until recently a Trustee of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Vice-President of the Cornwall Gardens Trust; Trustee of the Cornwall Red Squirrel Project; Chairman of the new Cornwall Museum’s Partnership retired; Vice Chairman of Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, and Trustee of Eden Trust.
Rear Admiral Michael Wood CBE JP DL
Royal Navy for 35 years; appointment highlights – the Royal Yacht, US Navy exchange, in First Sea Lord’s and then the Chief of Defence’s offices, and as the Chief Naval Engineer Officer. Thereafter eight years in Defence Industry; then nine years as a JP, currently Chairman of the China Fleet Trust, Battling On Advisory Board, and other local charity endeavours.
Colonel Tom French OBE TD DL
On leaving Millfield School, Tom was commissioned into the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry and later served in the Durham Light Infantry.
In 1970 having married Sandy they returned home to St Austell where Tom became involved in retail and then financial services. In parallel he served for 27 years in the Territorial Army and in 1991 he took command of the 6th Battalion of the Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry. In December 1994 he was awarded the OBE. Tom later became Commandant of the Cornwall Army Cadets Force.
Tom is now a St Austell Town Councillor having also served as a Cornwall Councillor.
Bert Biscoe DL
Bert Biscoe served as a member of Cornwall (County) Council for 30 years, and on Carrick District Council until its dissolution. He remains a long-serving member of Truro City Council, and was Mayor of Truro during the 2019-20 Covid lockdowns. He has held many offices, including Chair of Cornwall Enterprise, Chair of Cornwall Rural Development Programme and various Council portfolios. He is a long-serving member of the Council of Gorsedh Kernow and is a Cornish Bard, Vyager gans Geryow (Travels with Words). He sits on the Executive Committee of the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, and is a trustee of Cornwall Rural Community Charity. He chaired the Cornish Constitutional Convention which laid the foundations for the current unitary council. He was instrumental in obtaining the protection of the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities for the Cornish, and in getting Cornish coded on the census database. He is a poet, songwriter and performer, and, in his retirement, offers guided historical walks around Truro, chairs Truro Civic Society, and presides at Truro Old Cornwall Society.
Jackie Stanley DL
Jackie Stanley married a Cornishman and has lived and worked in Cornwall ever since.
With three adult daughters with their families having returned to their roots, she is passionate about Cornwall and giving back to the community through her charity work. Having worked in management in the private and corporate sector, in 1994 Jackie decided to go independent and successfully runs her own two businesses in Padstow. Jackie is an Ambassador for the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, Chair of the Padstow RNLI Guild, sponsor for the Children’s Sailing Trust and supporter of other local charities.
Lieutenancy Officers
Clerk to the Lieutenancy – Kate Kennally
Kate joined Cornwall Council in January 2016 as Chief Executive and Clerk to the Lieutenancy. With a background in people services, Kate is passionate about improving the life chances of the people of Cornwall through inclusive economic growth and through empowering communities to get involved in the delivery of public services.
Since moving to Cornwall, Kate has accelerated the transformation and improvement of Council services resulting in a reconfiguration of roles and responsibilities within Cornwall, deeper partnerships across the public sector, underpinned through the Council’s double devolution approach. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Kate has worked with partner organisations to effectively suppress the virus, whilst welcoming a record number of visitors during the summer season as well as providing trusted guidance and assistance to Cornish residents and businesses.
Kate is determined that Cornwall should be a leader in tackling climate change and improving the Cornish environment and is leading the Council’s work to become carbon neutral by 2030, twenty years ahead of the Government’s target of 2050. The climate change plan includes a Forest for Cornwall, powering new homes with alternative energy, and making energy efficiency improvements to existing Council owned housing. Kate has been instrumental in working with Government to develop Spaceport Cornwall, a project between Cornwall Council, The Local Enterprise Partnership, Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd and Virgin Orbit, to provide horizontal satellite launch from Cornwall Airport Newquay by 2022, creating high paid jobs in Cornwall in a globally growing sector. This project will put Cornwall on a global stage, which will support both local growth and the entire UK satellite industry.
Kate is keen to further promote Cornwall to the world through the window of the G7 summit in June 2021, leaving a lasting legacy that will unleash Cornwall’s potential to trailblaze natural solutions to the ecological and climate crises facing our planet to benefit future generations.
Assistant Clerk – Charlie Sims
Charlie has 27 years’ experience of working for Cornwall Council (and the former County Council) has gained extensive knowledge, relevant experience and corporate memory in supporting Councillors, democratic process and Cornwall Lieutenancy. Since April 2021 she has had responsibility for leading the support team for the Cornwall Lieutenancy, Cabinet and Civic Office to ensure that the Lord Lieutenant, Leader, Cabinet Members, Chairman of the Council and the wider membership of the Council receive the necessary support to enable them to fulfil their wide ranging responsibilities.