The Lord-Lieutenant of Berkshire
Andrew Try Esq.
Andrew Try is the founder and Managing Director of ComXo, which provides virtual personal assistance and other workplace services to large enterprise clients in the City of London; his company employs 110 people in Datchet. A sixth-generation Windsorian, his voluntary work has focused on serving the locality, including as Trustee of the Windsor Festival, the Windsor Learning Partnership Multi-Academy Trust and the Prince Philip Trust Fund; member of the board of the Friends of St George’s Chapel; chair of the Royal Windsor Rose and Horticultural Society; and governor of Clewer Green Primary School and Papplewick School, Ascot.
He has two children and an adult stepson and lives in Windsor with their mother, Vicky.
He was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2019 and took on the role of Lord-Lieutenant on 23 October 2023.
The Vice Lord-Lieutenant
Graham Barker Esq. MStJ DL
Graham Barker has been involved with a variety of local charities and organisations in Berkshire.
He is Vice President of the Berkshire Community Foundation, is a Trustee of The Inside Out Trust (formerly known as the Berkshire Care Trust) which supports ex-offenders. Mr Barker is also a Trustee of the Berkshire Historic Churches Trust. He is Deputy Chairman of the Berkshire County Priory Group of the Order of St John and Chairman of the Newbury Spring Festival.
In April 2024, Graham was appointed an Honorary Colonel for the Royal County of Berkshire Army Cadet Force. Graham is a former High Sheriff of the County 2018 – 2019. He was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2019 and Vice Lord-Lieutenant in 2020.
The Deputy Lieutenants
The Lord-Lieutenant is supported in his work by a team of Deputy Lieutenants (DLs) across the county. The size of the population of Berkshire determines the maximum number of DLs that the Lord-Lieutenant may appoint.
Deputy Lieutenants are appointed by the Lord-Lieutenant. They come from all walks of life and all parts of the County and are all people who have given significant service to their country or county. The role of Deputy Lieutenants, like that of the Lord-Lieutenant is non-political.
Deputy Lieutenants reflect a broad range of services to the community, cultural background, ethnic mix, gender and social range. Their local and specialist knowledge and experience is increasingly being used to positive effect in key sectors ranging from education to youth services, and from business to the rural economy. They are the eyes and ears of the Lieutenancy in our local communities and liaise closely with many organisations through the county.
Deputy Lieutenants support the work of the Lord-Lieutenant. They represent the Lord-Lieutenant in a wide range of public duties and at many engagements throughout Berkshire. They play a particularly important ceremonial role at the many Citizenship Ceremonies held in Berkshire’s six Unitary Authority areas. DLs are particularly involved in encouraging voluntary organisations and charities – not least through their active work in encouraging and assisting with the assessment process of the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Deputy Lieutenants may wear uniform or a badge of office when they are representing the Lord-Lieutenant.
Deputy Lieutenants retire at the age of 75 and then join a supplementary list, but carry out no further duties as DLs.
Click on the gallery photos below to find out more about the DLs for the Royal County of Berkshire.
Richard Anderson Esq. DL
Appointed 2019
Born into a service family, Richard has travelled the world extensively. After completing training at RMA Sandhurst in 1973, he was posted to various places including Germany, Northern Ireland and Belize. His military career was wide ranging, including Nuclear weaponry, commanding an artillery battery and, as ADC, serving alongside the highest ranking Major General in BAOR.
On returning to the UK, a short spell was spent working for Thorn EMI before starting his own business of commercial landscaping, based in Reading. This successful business grew over 30 years and carried out many prestigious contracts including work for Her late Majesty the Queen, at Windsor Castle.
Richard is a Trustee of RMA Sandhurst. He is a retired member of the Round Table and currently a member of the Rotary Club of Pangbourne. He is a former Trustee for the Berkshire Community Foundation. Since 2009 he has been Chairman of Dr Ellerton‘s Charity based in Theale.
Richard has been awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship twice by Rotary (their highest recognition award) for fundraising for their ‘Polio Plus’ campaign through public speaking at various events.
Richard has many interests including collecting Japanese and Chinese Cloisonné, trench art, guiding at Kensal Green cemetery, battlefield guiding tours and continuing to travel the world.
Mrs Lindsey Beard JP DL
Appointed 2021
Lindsey Beard, a former journalist and broadcaster, has been serving as a magistrate in Berkshire since 2008. She is both a Presiding Justice in the Adult Court, a member of the Youth Panel and has sat on appeals in the Crown Court.
She is a member of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee, overseeing the recruitment of magistrates.
Lindsey chaired the Berkshire based charity The Inside Out Trust (formerly known as the Berkshire Care Trust) for nine years from 2015 to 2024 (and still serves as a trustee), helping to rehabilitate offenders in the Royal County. Lindsey is also a trustee of the Berkshire Community Foundation, a charity that works across Berkshire to raise, then distribute, money directly to vital local causes.
She also works as a volunteer at Berkshire Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust, sitting as an independent lay panel member, ensuring that the right criteria are met for people being held under the Mental Health Act.
Lindsey takes a keen interest in the Arts and is a voting member of BAFTA.
Charles Brims Esq. DL
Appointed 2013
Charles Brims lives with his wife, Patricia, in Brimpton, a village near Newbury. He is a member of Brimpton Parish Council, and Chairman of the village Recreation Ground. She is Churchwarden of Brimpton parish church, and a former Chairman of the village primary school.
Charles is Chairman of Greenham Trust, a charity that makes grants of over £3m per annum to good causes in and around Newbury. He is also Chairman of McMullen & Sons Ltd, an independent brewer & pub company, and is a director of several other businesses.
He was High Sheriff of Berkshire in 2012/13.
The Rt Hon The Lord Brownlow CVO DL (David)
Appointed 2018
Lord Brownlow (David) is a British entrepreneur, philanthropist and member of The House of Lords
In 1986 David graduated in Economics from Newcastle Polytechnic after which he spent two years as a Policeman with Thames Valley Police before becoming a recruitment consultant.
He co-founded Huntswood, his first business, in 1996. Initially a recruitment consultancy, Huntswood grew to be a specialist resourcing and consultancy firm focussed on its clients’ customer outcomes; with call centre capabilities including a base in South Africa. He sold Huntswood in February 2024 to ResultsCX
In 2013 he co-founded his second business, Havisham; which is an investment and trading group with diverse interests.
David takes pride in the work of his charitable giving; especially his own ‘David Brownlow Charitable Foundation’ (DBCF) which concentrates on helping individuals and communities where there is an element of disadvantage
As well as being a Trustee of DBCF, David is a Vice-President of Berkshire Community Foundation, a Founding Patron of Thames Hospice and a Patron of The Royal Osteoporosis Society
In 2005 he was named the national ‘Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year’ in the Ernst & Young / Sunday Times / Coutts Awards
In 2007 he was named ‘Best Chief Executive’ recognising his ‘outstanding service to compliance and regulation’
David was appointed a DL in January 2018, made a Commander of The Royal Victorian Order in June 2018 and in September 2019 Her late Majesty elevated him to the Peerage.
Simon Carter Esq. DL
Appointed 2012
Simon Carter works in the outdoor event sector running a marquee hire business.
He was Managing Director of the family business, Carter & Son (Thatcham) Ltd until it closed in 2019. The company had a retail shop selling snow and mountain sports equipment and a factory producing industrial textiles such as marquees and tarpaulins. Established for nearly 190 years the company had been based in Reading since 1919.
He sits on the Committee for The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL). MERL is the national museum of agriculture and is situated on the London Road campus of the University of Reading.
He completed an MBA in 1999 at the University of Warwick Business School and now volunteers as a mentor supporting MBA students.
He is chair of The Heart of Streatley Charitable Trust, established to look after a small piece of Berkshire chalk downland.
He was involved for many years with the Newbury and District Agricultural Society, an educational charity promoting agriculture and the countryside to all ages; served as Shows Chairman; a trustee for ten years, chairing The Board for four years. He was a founder director and trustee of the biennial Goring & Streatley Arts Festival. The Festival promotes art and science in the area.
He has been extensively involved in supporting other charitable and sporting organisations over a long period.
Paul Dick Esq. OBE JP DL
Appointed 2010
Paul has had a very successful career in education, and for almost 30 years he was the headteacher of a large and extremely successful comprehensive school. He specialised in assisting schools in difficulty, due to his passion for improving the life chances of young people. Paul was a National Leader in Education, the winner of the Outstanding Leadership in the South of England and was awarded an OBE for services to education.
Paul has been a sitting JP since 1994 and holds a range of trustee positions in various charities. He is currently the Chairman of Reading YMCA, an elected West Berkshire Councillor and an active and enthusiastic senior county football referee.
Paul is married with three adult children.
Dr Stefan Fafinski JP DL
Appointed 2023
Stefan is an experienced and accomplished public lawyer and Parole Board chair. He also sits as a Presiding Justice in the Thames Valley Family Court and is a member of the Lord Chancellor's Recruitment Advisory Committee. He has co-authored eight successful undergraduate law textbooks, five of which are now in their ninth editions.
Stefan has almost 30 years of unbroken service as a charity trustee and school governor and currently chairs two national charities: the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) Charity and Timebanking UK. He is also chair of the Inside Out Trust (Berkshire Care Trust).
The WCIT Charity is a national charity with a City of London home. Its purpose is to use the power of tech for impact through digital inclusion, education, charitable, and public engagement initiatives across the entire UK. Stefan is passionate about maximising the capabilities of technology for those communities who will benefit from it the most. Timebanking UK is the national charity supporting the development of timebanking, which has to date facilitated almost 7,000,000 volunteering hours. The Inside Out Trust supports ex-offenders under the supervision of the probation services throughout Berkshire.
Stefan is also a trustee of Priors Court Foundation in West Berkshire which exists to transform the lives of autistic young people with complex needs, and Red Trouser Day, an organisation dedicated to improving outcomes through education and research into the prevention, early diagnosis, and cure of colorectal cancer.
He is a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and a Freeman of the City of London.
He is a qualified private pilot and member of West London Aero Club, White Waltham. He also enjoys music, sport, and building things out of LEGO.
Stefan was born in Reading and has lived in Berkshire ever since.
Mrs Derna Grundon DL
Appointed 2024
Derna moved to Windsor in 1992 from Glasgow with her job as a freelance production assistant on TV commercials before starting her family. She is married with five children, all educated in Windsor.
Derna joined in fundraising locally for both individuals and organisations including Thames Valley Hospice, Thames Valley Adventure Playground, Windsor Festival and Forest Bridge School and was a volunteer for Home Start Slough and a trustee of Bentley Priory. Derna was also part of the events team of the Prince Philip Trust fund and is currently a trustee of Well Windsor.
Derna enjoys various sports and walking her two westies around Windsor Great Park
Willie Hartley Russell Esq. MVO DL
Appointed 2016
Wille Hartley Russell is Patron of the Berkshire County Cricket Club and is Vice President of the Berkshire Community Foundation. He also serves on the Court of the University of Reading and is a Trustee of the Berkshire Historic Churches Trust.
He is Chairman of the National Almshouse Association which supports and represents 1700 independent almshouse charities throughout the United Kingdom.
Willie is a Director of CCLA, the UK’s largest charity investment manager based in the City of London, where he specialises in portfolio management for charities. He has previously served on the Boards of the M&G Charities Multi Asset Investment Fund and on the Board of Community First, the investment vehicle for UK Community Foundations.
Willie is also Chairman of the Catholic Church Insurance Association, the leading insurance provider for Catholic dioceses and orders in England, Wales and Scotland, insuring £20 billion of property assets.
He is Chairman of the Hartley Trust, a family charitable trust, providing over 70 almshouses for retired people in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. The Hartley Trust (formerly Donnington Hospital) was founded in 1393 and is Berkshire’s oldest charity. Willie is also Patron of the Thatcham Old Bluecoat Charity and a Vice Patron of Wycombe Youth Action.
He was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in The Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2011. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers and a Freeman of the City of London. He has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Oxford Brookes University and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (ACSI).
Willie has lived in Berkshire all his life and owns the Bucklebury Estate which has been in his family since 1540. He lives at Bucklebury and has three sons.
Willie served as High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire 2021/2022.
Harry Henderson Esq. DL
Appointed 2010
Harry Henderson lives near Newbury and is a former High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire. He is a former President of the Newbury and District Agricultural Society. His considerable charitable work extends throughout the County, notably supporting the Berkshire Community Foundation and the Greenham Common Trust. He is the founder of the West Woodhay Garden Show in aid of charities. He was a partner of Cazenove & Co until 2002. In 2020 He retired as Chairman of the Witan Investment Trust PLC, as a Director of Cadogan Settled Estates and as a Trustee of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. He is currently a Trustee of the Ernest Cook Trust and Chairman of the Farmington Trust.
Harry Henderson recently became President of the Berkshire Scout Council.
Dr Christina Hill Williams DL MA FRGS FRSA
Appointed 2005
Dr Hill Williams lives near Pangbourne.
She has been extensively involved with the Berkshire Magistracy as a lay member of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on JPs, Chairman of Appointments Panel and Chairman of the West Berkshire Advisory Sub-Committee. She has been a General Commissioner of Income Tax, Chairman of the Reading General Commissioners, and Chairman of the Berkshire General Commissioners before becoming Chairman of South Central England General Commissioners.
She has been involved with mental health as a non-executive director of the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, the Berkshire mental health service provider.
She has been involved with Berkshire environmental charities first as Chairman and now as Vice President of Berkshire CPRE. She co-founded Berkshire Gardens Trust in 2008 and was its first Chairman. After a term of being Vice President, Christina is now the President.
Dr Hill Williams retired as Vice Patron of Abbeyfield, Reading in 2023. She is President of the League of Friends of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, President of the National Trust Reading Centre, President of the Society for the Protection of Ascot and its environs (SPAE) and a Director of Berkshire Ceremonial.
Dr Hill Williams has three degrees from 2 universities: BA (honours) and then MA and Doctorate. Dr Hill Williams has worked for 4 national organisations and charities, serving as CEO of 2 of them. She has held a number of national voluntary charity roles, including Adviser to the Trustees of the National Council for the Welfare of Prisoners Abroad (now Prisoners Abroad). She is a past member of the Board of Governors of the YWCA and former Chairman of the national Appeal Committee of the YWCA raising nearly £1,000,000.
She was High Sheriff of the County from 2009 to 2010.
Her husband, Clive Williams OBE, was County Solicitor and County Secretary of Berkshire County Council 1977-1989. Clerk to the Berkshire Magistrates’ Courts Committee 1986-1994, and Clerk to the Thames Valley Police Authority 1986-1996. He is also a local historian and published author.
Tanweer Ikram Esq. CBE DL
Appointed 2023
Tanweer is the Deputy Senior District Judge (Deputy Chief Magistrate) of England and Wales.
Tan was born and schooled in Slough, Berkshire. He graduated in law from Wolverhampton Polytechnic, is a bencher at Inner Temple and also practiced as a solicitor in Slough. He was elected the President of the London Criminal Courts' Solicitors' Association in 2008.
Tan was appointed to the Bench in 2003 and to full time office in 2009. He was appointed the Deputy Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) in 2017 and hears extradition and terrorism cases. He also sits in the Crown Court and was previously, an Associate Judge of HM Court of the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus.
He is the Deputy Lead Diversity and Community Relations Judge and one of the editors of the Equal Treatment Bench Book which guides the judiciary on equal treatment.
He is a contributing editor of 2 textbooks, Archbold Magistrates’ Court Criminal Practice 2024 and Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence & Practice 2024. He is a tutor at the Judicial College and a Visiting Professor and honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) of the University of West London.
He received a CBE in the 2022 New Years’ Honours’ List for Services to Judicial Diversity.
Mrs Carol Jackson-Doerge DL
Appointed 2021
Carol was born in London of Guyanese (British Guyana) Parents, moving to West Berkshire in 1991.
Carol has a background in Sponsorship, Events and Marketing with a particular focus on Customer Advocacy and Business Development within financial advocacy, eDiscovery, Legal Tech and supplier information and risk manager management sectors.
She is an Executive Leadership and Spiritual Direction Coach, supporting corporate and third sector business.
Carol has been extensively involved within local democracy serving as a District Councillor and Parish Councillor, school governor [since 2012] and a member of St Mary's Burghfield Parochial Church Council. In 2018 Carol was appointed Chairman of West Berkshire District Council.
Carol is a trustee of Burghfield Relief In Need, providing urgent support to those in need within Burghfield Berkshire and Ann Brightwell Charities enabling young people to continue in education.
In 2020 she became a Director of Community United West Berkshire, an organisation addressing Diversity Inclusion and Equity across West Berkshire. (Asking the difficult questions).
At various times throughout her life Carol has indulged her passion for travel, embarking on several expeditions, and has travelled widely in Europe and South America. Carol has a great interest in foreign affairs and is a member of UNA-UK and The Royal British Legion supporting her local branches.
Carol lives in Burghfield Common, with her husband Udo and has a daughter who lives in London.
Chris Juden Esq. JP DL
Appointed 2023
Chris has worked mainly in the Travel Industry for much of his working life both in the UK and based overseas in senior IT roles, but for the last 15 years has been self-employed in the IT industry working with a number of companies and individuals across the county and also further afield.
He is currently a magistrate in Berkshire covering both Adult and Youth courts, a role he has done for the past 18 Years and in this time has also been involved in a number of roles including, the Training and Development committee and the Schools Mock Trial Competition in Berkshire. He is currently the Chair of Berkshire Magistrates and the Deputy National Digital Lead in England and Wales for all digital matters for the magistracy.
He is currently a Governor of Ranelagh School and a previous Governor of Bracknell and Wokingham College.
Chris lives between Ascot and Bracknell.
He is a keen runner, cyclist, and walker.
Chris has three adult children.
Khan Juna Esq. DL
Appointed 2013
Khan Juna lives in Lower Earley, Reading. He was Chairman of the Thames Valley Police Authority from 2008 until 2012, having being a member since 2003.
Mr Juna has been as a member of the Reading Council for Racial Equality since 1983, serving as Chairman from 200 until 2003. He continues to be actively involved in fostering good race relations.
Mr Juna has served as Chairman of the Ethnic Chamber of Commerce for the Thames Valley to support and encourage small business to become part of the mainstream business community.
Miss Alka Kharbanda DL
Appointed 2024
Alka was born in India and moved to England in the late 1960s when her parents immigrated to Slough. She has lived in Berkshire ever since.
Alka has practised as a solicitor for 35 years and has served as Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer during her practice, as well as being part of the Management Board for most of the 35 years. Her early work with victims of domestic violence led to her becoming involved with women’s groups. She was part of a management committee which founded a refuge for victims of domestic violence in the County.
For many years she was a volunteer for the Citizens Advice Bureau in Berkshire, as well as Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Alka is a former High Sheriff of the County (2022-2023). During her year she championed the importance of education. Since then, she has attended schools to give talks to schoolchildren on the importance of education and is involved with educational charities.
Mrs Geraldine Lejeune OBE DL
Geraldine has lived for most of her life in Berkshire, moving from London aged 5, she was educated in Slough and worked for a major Corporate for most of her working life. Her career was in Human Resources and she was responsible for community CSR in that role. This started her passion for working with the most vulnerable in our County and she then moved into the voluntary sector in 2002 as CEO of East Berkshire Women’s Aid. During her 10 years with the charity she started an outreach service for male survivors of domestic abuse as well as for women and children, securing £1M funding to provide 2 new safe houses from central Government.
Geraldine was awarded an OBE for her work with domestic abuse survivors in the New Year’s Honours list in 2011.
In 2018 Geraldine was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Thames Valley Venus Awards and went on to be given a National Venus Lifetime Achievement Award later in 2018.
In 2022 Geraldine was given a Lifetime of Achievement Award by Thames Valley Business & Community Awards.
2023 Geraldine was nominated for the Great Business & Community National Awards for a Lifetime Achievement.
In 2015 Geraldine moved to the Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) as CEO and under her leadership there has been a dramatic increase in support from businesses, trusts, foundations and individuals, enabling BCF to give a record breaking £1M in support annually to charities and voluntary groups, who in turn are able to support a significant number of beneficiaries.
Since BCF was formed in 1985 a record £20M has been given out in grants, £10M of which has been granted since 2016.
Geraldine has a husband Ray and they have 4 children and 8 grandchildren which keep her very busy.
Brigadier Stephen Matthews DL FRSA
Appointed 2013
Brigadier Matthews was commissioned into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from RMA Sandhurst in 1973, becoming Commandant of the REME Training Group at Arborfield Garrison from 1999-2002. He was Chief Executive of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, 2006-2021. He has also been actively involved with the Army Benevolent Fund in Berkshire.
Mrs Harriet McCalmont DL
Appointed 2019
Mrs McCalmont worked for many years with her husband in a family business.
In 2004 she gained a degree at Reading University in History of Art and Architecture and subsequently worked for a London Art Dealer for 7 years.
She works as a volunteer for the Chalke Valley History Festival each June in Wiltshire.
She serves as a local Parish Councillor and is Chairman of the Trustees and Fundraiser for the Mary Hare School for the Deaf.
Simon Muir Esq. DL
Appointed 2024
Simon initially trained as an engineer, his career has taken him from working within heavy Engineering companies; a stint in City Finance and then to the Telecoms sector, working for a business supplying communications for the Emergency Services.
Simon lives in Berkshire with his wife Sarah Jane and has three sons. Simon runs a small farm, consisting arable and commercial operations. Simon is a trained mediator and has overseen settlements on various commercial negotiations; he sits on the Thames Valley Police Rural crime group and served as Chairman of the Berkshire Branch of the Countryside Land and Business Association.
Simon was High Sheriff of Berkshire for the year 2023/2024.
Miss Susan Roberts DL
Appointed 2023
Sue Roberts has lived in and around the Reading area all her life.
Sue started her working career at local brewery, Courage, Barclay & Simonds rising through the ranks to become Sponsorship & Special Events Manager for Courage Limited which was bought out by Fosters Brewing Group which latterly became Scottish & Newcastle and finally Heineken. Sue has a passion for all sports and this position allowed her to work with many sports governing bodies which included the Football Association, the Rugby Football Union, the World Professional Snooker Association, the Rugby Football League, Formula One Motor Racing and the PDC to name a few.
In 2000 Sue set up her own company where she continued to work on sponsorships with Heineken and hospitality events for various regional brewers and pub companies.
Throughout her career she has raised millions of pounds for national and regional charities, including the Bobby Moore Cancer Fund, Sue Ryder, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Beating Bowel Cancer, West Berks Mencap, Newbury Soup Kitchen, Launchpad, No.5 Youth, the Royal Families and raising funds for a memorial of Trooper Potts in Reading.
Sue has chaired or been a member of various Testimonial/Benefit years for former sporting stars at Surrey County Cricket Club, Liverpool FC and local football Club, Reading FC
Sue Roberts is a member of the Lords Taverners, Berkshire Committee Member of the Army Benevolent Fund, a former President and member of the Rotary Club of Reading Abbey for many years. She was also a Founder Trustee of Newbury based Swings and Smiles.
Sue is heavily involved in fund raising for many local charities whilst at the same time educating the various fund raising staff in to how to run events and fund raise at the events.
Mark Sanderson Esq. DL
Appointed 2023
Mark moved to Berkshire from the North West in 2006 and lives in Caversham, Reading with his wife and teenage son.
Mark works with Guide Dogs for the Blind, the charity, who has had one of its main offices, the Reading Hub, in Burghfield for many years, and leads UK-wide on their wide-ranging services for children, young people and families affected by vision impairment as Assistant Director CYPF.
Mark is passionate about volunteering and throughout his life has volunteered in hospitals, youth work, disability, and sight loss charities, locally, nationally, and internationally including on several occasions as a trustee.
Most of his career has been spent working in the disability charity sector in large organisations including RNIB, Mencap and Leonard Cheshire Disability before Guide Dogs, more recently in senior operational leadership roles. His early career was in accountancy and HR in the private sector including in manufacturing, IT, and leisure.
Although Mark’s voluntary and charitable interests have been in the disability sector, he is keen to use his expertise in new areas of interest where there is a need, and he can help.
Mrs Sarah Scrope DL
Appointed 2011
Sarah has lived near Chilton Foliat on the western edge of Berkshire all her life. She runs and manages the Chilton Estate. The Chilton Estate is a busy, traditional agricultural enterprise which has been in Sarah’s family since 1908. As well as growing arable crops and managing woodland, the estate has a strong emphasis on conservation and sporting activities. There is a fishing business at Chilton which Sarah especially enjoys, as she is a keen fly-fisherman. In 2010, she was President of the Newbury and District Agricultural Society, and The Royal County of Berkshire Show.
Sarah served as High Sheriff of The Royal County of Berkshire 2017 - 2018. She has been a Governor of three Berkshire schools over the past twenty years. She is a Trustee of the Greenham Trust which supports local charities and organisations for the benefit of people in West Berkshire and North Hampshire.
With a degree in music and a keen interest in it, Sarah sings in a local choir.
Kiren Sharma Esq. MBE DL
Appointed 2016
Mr Sharma is a local businessman and runs Gravity Personnel, based in Reading.
Mr Sharma is a keen supporter of various charities across Berkshire and has been involved in many fundraising events including ABF The Soldiers Charity, the Sue Ryder Hospice and the Air Ambulance.
Mr Sharma received the MBE in 2015 for services to charity and business in Berkshire.
Rohit Tanna Esq. DL BDS
Appointed 2023
Born in Tanzania, Rohit moved to the UK in 1965. He attended the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to study dentistry and having qualified, he worked as an associate in London for a year before moving to Reading in 1978 to run his own dental practice.
During his time in Reading, he was involved with other aspects of dentistry serving as Chairman of the Local Berkshire Dental Committee for 8 years and was President of the South Mercia Branch of the British Dental Association (BDA). He served also as a Clinical Advisor to the Berkshire Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), was a member of the Clinical Governance Panel for the Berkshire PCTs, served as the Chairman of the Berkshire Out of Hours Dental Emergency Service, was on the Berkshire Oral Health Advisory Group, the Oxford Deanery Postgraduate Dental Education Committee, the Denplan Advisory Board and was the BDA Press and Parliamentary Spokesman for Berkshire. He sold his practice in 2010 and retired from dentistry to go into property investment, development, and management.
He is currently a Trustee of Sandhurst Trust and Director of Sandhurst Enterprises Limited, Trustee and Treasurer of Dr Ellerton’s Charity, a Trustee of the Rotary Club of Pangbourne Charitable Trust and is a former Trustee of the Berkshire Community Foundation.
He has been a member of service clubs since 1978 firstly, a member of the Round Tables of Great Britain and Ireland becoming its National President in 1994 and is now a member and secretary of the Rotary Club of Pangbourne.
He is a Freeman of the City of London and is a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company Of Paviors. His personal interests include skiing, travelling worldwide, watching cricket, rugby, and football.
Sean Taylor Esq. DL
Appointed 2018
Sean Taylor lived and was educated in Berkshire before attending King’s College, University of London, where he obtained a BEng Hons degree in Computer Science and Electronics. After beginning his career working for an IT company in Bracknell, Berkshire he moved to its HQ in Silicon Valley. He moved back to Berkshire in the mid-1990s to co-found software companies Redwood Technologies Group and later Content Guru, which provides mission-critical customer experience solutions for large enterprises and governments. With offices in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pac, at a local level the company is proud to employ hundreds of colleagues in Berkshire. In 2016 Content Guru was awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation.
Sean has supported local charities and voluntary groups both personally and through his businesses since the 1990s. He is a Vice President and Vice Chair of Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) and in 2012 with BCF co-founded the Business Philanthropy Club, which links local businesses with good causes. He has been President of Bracknell Athletics Club since 2013. Sean is Chair of the Pride of Bracknell Forest Awards, which celebrate outstanding achievements in the borough for voluntary work, sport, education and business. His businesses also support national and international causes such as The Soldiering On Awards and WWF.
Outside work and voluntary activities Sean enjoys travelling, clay pigeon shooting and is an occasional opera-goer. He is married to Jo and they have two children.
Professor Robert Van de Noort CBE DL
Appointed 2024
Robert is an archaeologist by background and is best known for his research into the archaeology of marine, intertidal and terrestrial wetlands, and into the impact of climate change on people and the environment in the past.
He was appointed as the tenth Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading in 2019. Robert has general responsibility to the University governing body – the Council – for maintaining and promoting the effectiveness, efficiency and good order of the University, and is the accountable officer for the University’s regulator, the Office for Students.
Between 2017 and 2024, Robert was the chair of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, which helps to provide governance for the Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Erosion risk management functions and cover all flood risks that are not the responsibility of the water companies.
Robert is a Patron of Launchpad Reading, the charity that works to end homelessness across Reading, and which was founded by students of the University of Reading.
Robert was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours, for contributions to science, to flood risk management, and to sustainability.
Hugo Vickers Esq. DL
Appointed 2010
Hugo Vickers is a writer, broadcaster and lecturer. He has written a number of biographies of members of the Royal Family and other well-known figures, and in 2008 published a book on St George’s Chapel, Windsor for the benefit of the Chapel. He is a well-known broadcaster, talking regularly on BBC Radio Berkshire, as well as internationally. He has been involved with many areas of Windsor life since he was at school at Eton in the 1960s. He was a commentator for ITN for the funerals of The Duke of Edinburgh in 2021 and The Queen in 2022.
From 2002 until 2012 he was Chairman of the Jubilee Walkway Trust which created the Jubilee Greenway to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. He then became Chairman of the Outdoor Trust (now the Commonwealth Walkway Trust), which created The Queen’s Walkway in Windsor to mark 9 September 2015, when The Queen became Britain’s longest reigning monarch. The Trust is also establishing Walkways throughout the Commonwealth.
He has a close association with the College of St George at Windsor, as a Lay Steward of St George’s Chapel since 1970 and has been their Captain since 2014. He was a member of the Friends and Companions’ Consultative Committee of the Foundation of the College of St George for some years, was on the Council of Management of the Windsor Festival for many years and was Patron of the Me2 Club in Berkshire. He has given many lectures to schools and for charity.
He was a member of the steering committee which advised Windsor on the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2019.
Julian Walker Esq. TD DL
Appointed 2023
Julian lives in the village of Rotherfield Peppard, near to Henley-on-Thames. Julian owns and manages A.B. Walker and Son Funeral Directors, a multi-branch fifth generation family business that has served the population of central Berkshire since 1826. He is an established leader in the trade associations of the profession and is currently a board member of IFSO, the emerging national regulator. In addition, he co-founded and manages MemoryGiving.com, an in-memory charity donations platform.
Growing up in Emmer Green, he attended Reading Blue Coat School and Sheffield University. He was commissioned into the Army Reserve, serving for over 15 years, and since retirement has been retained with the role as Honorary County Colonel for The Rifles Regiment in Berkshire. He champions the links between The Rifles, which was formed from the historic infantry regiments of Berkshire (regular and reservists), the cadets, the numerous antecedent regimental associations and the community throughout the county.
Julian is married to Nicola, a corporate restructuring partner with Gateley PLC and they have three children: Georgina who is training to be a lawyer after reading law at York, Henrietta, studying medical science at Exeter and Montgomery who shortly to take his A Levels at Shiplake College. Julian served for many years as a Trustee for Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent House Charity until 2022 and remains a keen supporter of local palliative care. Julian enjoys cycling, field sports, watching rugby, the arts and travel. He is a member of the Worshipful Company of Glovers of London.
Mrs Lucy Zeal DL
Appointed 2021
Lucy was born in Berkshire and apart from a few years in London, has lived in Berkshire all her life. Having worked at Christie’s, the Institute of Directors and Jack Morton Worldwide she has, since 2011, been managing the family farming enterprise with her husband, Chris. She has four adult children.
Lucy became the 20th High Steward of Wokingham in 2018. This life appointment is ceremonial and includes civic events and services as well as community events. She is active in the local community and is on the Wokingham Civic Awards selection committee. Lucy is patron of WADE (Wokingham & District Association for the Elderly) as well as patron of All Saints Church in Wokingham’s ‘spaceforall’ fundraising project.
Lucy volunteers for Browns Community Services as well as Mustard Tree, Reading as a support mentor to vulnerable young people and adults. She is a trustee of Berkshire Historic Churches Trust and The Inside Out Trust and supports other local charitable organisations in various ways.
In her capacity as DL Lucy has officiated at Citizenship Ceremonies and has been part of the assessment process for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and most recently the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Lucy served as High Sheriff of Berkshire 2019-2020.
The Clerk and Lieutenancy Officer
Marina Sawyer was appointed as Lieutenancy Officer in June 2013. She provides full administrative support to the Lord-Lieutenant. In particular she assists the Lord-Lieutenant in planning royal visits. She also coordinates the work of other members of the Lieutenancy.
Marina is the first point of contact with the Lord-Lieutenant and other members of the Lieutenancy for any organisations or members of the public who may wish to invite the Lord-Lieutenant to visit them, to take advice on Royal visits or to enquire about the many other activities and events in which the Lieutenancy is involved.