Mark Ansell DL – A Chartered Mechanical Engineer who has spent his whole working life in manufacturing industry around the UK, currently chairman of Powervault Limited. The third generation of his family to live in North Devon, a keen supporter of local wildlife and environmental charities and chairman of North Devon Cricket Club.

 

 

 

 

The Right Honourable The Countess of Arran MBE VLL – Currently Vice Lord-Lieutenant. Keen supporter of both the Rural community and voluntary sector in North Devon.

 

 

Robin Barlow DL – Robin has lived in Devon for over 45 years. He is married with two sons in the military. As well as his business interests as a fine art consultant, he works with a number of charities, was County President of St. John Ambulance and has been involved in the Devon magistracy. He served as High Sheriff of Devon in 2012/13.

 

 

Richard Bayly DL – Richard retired from the Civil Service in 2012 after 38 years which included 13 years in the Government Office for the South West based in Plymouth.

 

 

Philip Bostock OBE DL – For 16 years, Philip was Chief Executive of Exeter City Council and is now Chair of Exeter College. He and his family have lived for many years in Exeter and now live in Mid Devon.

 

 

Lady (Mary) Burnell-Nugent DL – Mary has lived and worked in Devon for 40 years. She is a doctor and specialises in Palliative Medicine.  She enjoys working with people and charities, particularly supporting and working with several hospices, the Devon Historic Churches Trust, her local churches and countryside issues.

Michael Caines MBE DL – Truly loyal to his home country of Devon, Chef Owner of Lympstone Manor Hotel, Michael Caines has spent his life-long career building his reputation on distinctive modern cuisine, celebrating local ingredients from the most fruitful larder in the UK. Holding two Michelin Stars for a consecutive 18 years, cooking for our Prime Minister and other big names in the world of celebrity and sport, Michael still manages to appear regularly on popular television and radio shows, as well as contributing significantly to his local communities and various charities in which he is associated with. Michael is proud to be Devonshire and encourages those in the community to enjoy all that the county has to offer.

 

 

Lady (Carey) Cave DL – Carey has lived and raised a family in East Devon since 1984 and today oversees the managing of her family’s agricultural and property business. She is a keen supporter of local and county charities, a Vice President of the Devon Red Cross, and a council member of The Devon County Agricultural Association.

 

 

Rear Admiral Ric Cheadle CB DL – Lives in West Devon. Career in the Royal Navy as a submariner; now active in local affairs as an elected Councillor. Past President of The Royal British Legion and now President of SSAFA (Plymouth) with particular interest in military issues.

 

 

Lady (Clarissa) Clifford of Chudleigh DL – Born in Devon, Clarissa recently stepped down from her professional career of many years as an Interior Designer, having worked on projects throughout the UK and Overseas. She has been involved in various local charities with particular interest in the preservation of historic buildings and encouraging small groups of volunteers. Clarissa is Patron of Hospiscare and served as High Sheriff in 2008/9.

 

 

 

Katharine Davidson Baylis KC DL – Kate is a retired KC who specialised in the financial aspects of divorce law, following an earlier career in international investment banking. She lives on Dartmoor and now oversees the family tourist attraction, Canonteign Falls. Kate has held various trusteeships and is currently a trustee for the Catholic Diocese of Plymouth. She is also on the Council of Epsom College. 

Professor Vikram S Devaraj DL – Vikram Devaraj worked as a medic for over 40 years, nearly 30 as a consultant plastic & reconstructive surgeon in Exeter covering patients in both Devon and Somerset. Having graduated from Leeds (1982) he completed training posts in London, Bristol, Oxford and abroad, specialising in adult and paediatric hand surgery, repair after trauma and surgery for soft tissue tumours of the body. His work overseas included training surgeons in resource poor environments in low- and middle-income countries and has taught nationally & internationally serving on Council of the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons and the British Society for Surgery of the Hand. He is still active in education around professional standards for regulated programs in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Exeter and enjoys personal challenges having raised funds through sport for charities, including the London Marathon and Mount Kilimanjaro. Over sixty years working and living with different populations in the UK he recognizes the need to embrace change, value community, enterprise, and regeneration.

 

 

Group Captain Gordon Evans DL – Retired RAF Pilot who commanded 28 and 230 Squadrons before becoming a civil aviation pilot in 2000, flying Boeing airliners including Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Since retirement in 2015, Gordon is active with several charities, including RAFA, the NCI, and SSAFA – he is currently President of SSAFA Devon. He is a keen Rugby supporter, and a heritage and model railway enthusiast, particularly The South Devon Railway and its Garden Railway Group.

 

 

The Honourable Charles Fane Trefusis DL – Lives in East Devon and works on the family estate as well as Director and Chairman of other land based companies. Has particular interests which include farming, forestry conservation and rural issues.

 

Jim French CBE DL – Jim retired in 2014 after 43 years in Commercial Aviation, culminating as Chairman and CEO of FlyBE. Former Chair of CBI South West. Chair of Calvert Trust Exmoor. Assisted in the development of Exeter Mathematics School, NED of RAF100 Appeal – a JV formed by RAF and the four RAF Charities. Interested in farming, the renovation of period properties and a supporter of several charities which focus on disability and Stem Based education and apprenticeships.

Deborah Hallett DL – Lives in East Devon on a family farm near Exmouth. Former voluntary roles include: Chairman of Rolle Exmouth Ltd, Industrial & Provident Society and Chair of the Exeter University Alumnae Association. Deborah’s professional career incorporated many years in the commercial sector, working across Europe and Russia for leading companies in the Food, Pharmaceutical and Technology Services sectors. Deborah moved to Devon in 1997 when she took on the role of Head of Commercial Practice for a FTSE 250 Consulting firm, subsequently establishing her own strategic consulting practice.

 

 

Vice Admiral Sir Richard Ibbotson KBE CB DSC DL – After a career in the Royal Navy Sir Richard has taken on many roles including Chairman of Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity, Member of RNLI, President of Historical Diving Society amongst others. Particular interests involve military charities, healthcare and local groups.

 

 

Mary King MBE DL – is a British equestrian who competes in eventing. She has represented Great Britain at six Olympics from 1992 to 2012, winning team silver in 2004 and 2012, and team bronze in 2008. At the World Equestrian Games, she won team gold in 1994 and 2010, and team silver in 2006. She has also won four team golds and one team bronze medal at the European Eventing Championships.

 

 

 

Dame Suzi Leather DBE MBE DL – Although born in Africa, Suzi has lived on and off in Devon since she was six, attended schools in Plymouth and Tavistock. Graduated from Exeter University. Married with 3 adult children, she works predominantly in the public and charitable sectors and has specialised in food, health and ethics and regulation. She chairs the Alzheimer’s Society.

John Lee OBE DL – Was born and has lived in Mid Devon all his life and is passionate about people and organisations that support the County. As well as personal land-based and property interests, he is chairman of Mole Avon Trading Ltd, South-West Lakes Trust, Devon County Agricultural Association Board, Westpoint Centre Devon Ltd and is a Lay Canon of Exeter Cathedral and Trustee of The Farmers Club London. He is President, Patron, or Trustee of several organisations including The Rural Youth Trust, Devon and Cornwall Voluntary Police Cadets, National Federation of Young Farmers and is a liveryman of The Incorporation of Weavers, Fullers and Shearmen and of The Worshipful Company of Farmers and a Freeman of the City of London. He was previously Chairman of Governors at Bicton College and of DEFRA Sustainable Farm and Food Policy and served as High Sheriff of Devon in 2013/14.

 

Heleen Lindsay-Fynn DL – B. Sc. graduate of the College of Estate Management, London University. Married with four children. Vice President of the Devon Red Cross since 1983, supporter of several local charities including the Devon County Show, National Gardens scheme & Amber Foundation. Hon. Patron of RAMM and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners. High Sheriff 2017/2018. Strong family ties with the Netherlands and Ireland. Leisure activities include skiing, sailing, cycling.

 

 

The Hon. Sarah Lopes DL – Sarah has lived and farmed in the South Hams for over forty years. She is married with three married children and grandchildren. She has always been involved in voluntary work and is President, Vice President, Patron and Trustee of various charities both locally and nationally, including the Devon Red Cross, Royal British Legion Devon, and the Atlantic Salmon Trust. She has family business interests in the north of Scotland and served as High Sheriff of Devon in 2011/2012.

 

 

Moira Marder DL – A teacher for over 30 years. Moira is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ted Wragg Trust. A group of soon-to-be 18 schools across Devon and Plymouth educating 15,000 pupils.

 

 

William Michelmore DL – Born in Exeter, after moving away for school and university became a solicitor in 1984. Returned to Exeter in 1986 to join the family firm of Michelmores as a 5th generation lawyer. Retired as an active lawyer in 2018. Also 5th generation of the founder of St Austell Brewery Co Ltd and now its non-executive chairman. Director of Bricks Finance Ltd.

 

 

Commodore Jake Moores OBE DL – Jake served in the Royal Navy as a submariner; he then commanded Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and the Devonport Flotilla before retiring to be a consultant.

 

 

Lord Ivar Mountbatten DL – Lord Ivar manages a traditional rural estate in the Mid Devon, the Grade 1 listed house being utilised as an exclusive use wedding venue.

 

 

Mark Parkhouse DL – Mark has lived & worked in North Devon for most of his adult life, and in recent years, with his partner, Oliver. He has two children and runs the family jewellers from his premises in Barnstaple High Street.

Grania Phillips DL – Grania has farmed in North Devon for over 30 years where she and her husband run a pedigree herd of Red Ruby Devons. She serves on the councils of Devon County Show, North Devon Show and Devon Cattle Breeders Society. She is committed to sustainable farming and connecting people to the countryside. Before moving to Devon, she worked as a Clinical Psychologist and maintains an interest in and commitment to mental health issues. She is also an Honorary Colonel of the Devon ACF and on the Board of Trustees of National Crime Beat, which awards young people who work to reduce crime in their neighbourhood.

 

 

Nick Powe DL – lives in Torquay and ran the prehistoric caves at Kents Cavern for over two decades. He chairs the management organisation for South Devon’s English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark designation and is an international Geopark assessor for UNESCO. He is a board director of VisitDevon and patron of the Devon Cave Rescue Organisation. He is an accomplished public speaker, equally proficient in French and English. Prior to moving back to Torbay in 2000, he trained as a Chartered Accountant with EY and held international finance roles with Dalgety, Spillers and Nestlé.

 

 

 

Mary Quicke MBE DL – Director Quicke’s Traditional Ltd integrated cheesemaking and farming family business. 250t traditional clothbound cheese/year. 670 cows pasture based in 2 calving blocks. Founder Academy of Cheese, a certification scheme whose aim is cheese sold for value not price. Judge at various cheese competitions, including American Cheese Society. Food Standards Agency Board Member (2017-2020), Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board Dairy Sector Council Member (2017-2023), Chairman of Council, Devon County Agricultural Association (2015-2022).

Dr Elizabeth Raikes DL – Elizabeth started her career in the Royal Navy (WRNS) as a radio operator and supply and secretariat officer. She left to become a teacher and then qualified as a chartered accountant. She worked for Ernst & Young and then the public sector spending the last 12 years before retirement in a variety of chief executive roles. In retirement she completed a PhD, at the University of Exeter, based on the English in Corsica in the 19th and early 20th centuries. For six years, she was a non-Executive director and Chair of the Audit Committee at the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. She continues to write non-fiction, but is also experimenting with a novel and short stories.

 

 

Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Ridgway KBE CB KStJ DL – He spent his first 18 years living in Exeter before joining the Army where he spent the next 38 years. On leaving the Army he was appointed Her Majesty’s Governor of Jersey. On return to Devon he took over as Chair of the Confederation of Service Charities; as a Judicial Appointments Commissioner; as a Lay Member of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission and as the President of SSAFA Devon. He is married to Valerie, they have 4 children and 12 grandchildren and they live in Bishopsteignton.

 

 

The Honourable John Rous DL – Following a financial career in London, have developed the tourism business, in the fishing village of Clovelly, which has been in his family ownership for many generations.

 

 

His Honour Erik Salomonsen DL – worked in Devon as a solicitor and later a Circuit Judge. He retired as a Judge in July 2018 and now serves as a member of the Parole Board. His three children were all educated in the County and the family have lived in the South Hams West Devon and in Mid Devon. He is a trustee of the Exeter Leukaemia Fund.

 

Rear Admiral Chris Snow CBE DL – Chris lives in West Devon and had a 35 year career in the Royal Navy. His final posting was based in Plymouth as Flag Officer Sea Training. He is President of Devon County British Legion and Life Vice-President of Plymouth (Drake) Sea Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets. He was a past Chair of Governors at Mount Kelly, Tavistock, and a Non-executive Director for Northern Devon Healthcare. Chris is Chair of the Lieutenancy Honours and Appointments Committee.

 

 

His Grace The Duke of Somerset DL – Manages a traditional rural Devon Estate in the South Hams. Also a member of the House of Lords; Elected to the Crossbenches.

 

Dr Gail Speirs DL – A medic for 37 years, 24 of these as a Consultant Medical Microbiologist in North Devon where she specialised in the diagnosis and management of infections and developed the service to provide programmes for antimicrobial stewardship, infection control and education in all aspects of infection. As a Trustee of the North Devon Medical Research and Education Trust many healthcare workers were supported in education and research. Married with 2 adult daughters. Leisure activities include walking, cycling, tennis and gardening. 

 

 

 

Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope GCB OBE DL – Resident in Exton, Admiral Sir Mark is a former First Sea Lord and retains much professional and charitable interest in the Royal Navy and in particular its home in Devon.

Richard Stevens MBE DL – Richard was born in North Devon, and has lived and worked all over Devon and Cornwall. Richard Stevens career is in public transport where he started out as a bus driver in 1989; He was appointed Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus in May 2012. He previously served as Operations & Commercial Director for Stagecoach South West. In addition, Richard is the current chair of the Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce; chair of the Plymouth Area Business Council, chair of the Plymouth Growth Board. He is  Chair of Governor’s for City College Plymouth and chair of All Saints Academy in Plymouth. As a Heart of the South West LEP board member Richard Chairs the business leadership group, is deputy chair of the Strategic Investment Panel. Richard is also a director of Destination Plymouth; In his spare time Richard enjoys Sailing and Rugby.

 

 

Sir Henry Studholme BT DL – Sir Harry is a landowner, farmer and forester living to the west of Exeter. He is a Chartered Accountant Chartered Tax Adviser and an accredited mediator. He was previously the chairman of the South West Regional Development Agency, the GB Forestry Commission and the FTSE listed Phaunos Timber Fund. Harry is an Honorary Professor at the University of Exeter and currently the chairman of Treeconomics Ltd and Adapt Biogas. He is involved in a number of rural charities including as treasurer for the Devon County Agricultural Association and as a trustee of the Seale Hayne Education Trust. 

 

Adrian Vinken CBE DL – A Plymouth resident whose later cultural career and family life became rooted in the southwest.  For over 30 years Adrian was CEO of the Theatre Royal Plymouth during which time he chaired the National Association of Art Centres, Destination Plymouth Ltd, the National Touring Partnership Ltd, Culture South West and the international Mayflower 400 Compact. He has been a keen mountaineer, tackling a number of the ‘Seven Summits’, and enjoys trekking wilderness areas including Dartmoor.

 

Mrs Christina Williams DL – She lives in North Devon and currently sits on the board of the Exmoor Society and the landscape advisory and historic environment boards of the Exmoor National Park. Furthermore, Christina is the Director of the Badgworthy Land Company and a member of the Prince’s Council. She now chairs the Graze the Moor project on Molland Moor and she is interested in the environment.

 

 

 

Brigadier Simon Young CBE DL – Served 38 years in the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, now lives in Saltash and spends most of his time, when not involved with charity work, painting watercolours.