Four new Deputy Lieutenants of Devon have been appointed by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, Mr Eric Dancer CBE JP, each of them honoured for their positive contributions to the County and the Nation.
They are Mr Richard Bayly of Milton Combe, Mrs Patricia Southby-Tailyour of Ermington, Wing Commander Brian Wills-Pope of Torquay and Brigadier Simon Young of Saltash
The Office of the Lord-Lieutenant dates from the reign of Henry VIII. Originally, one of their main duties was the responsibility for mustering local fighting forces, but today the office is that of the sovereign’s personal representative.
Deputy Lieutenants enforced watch and ward at the beacons which were kept ready to give warning of invasion and were lighted to spread news of the Armada’s approach.
As the personal representative of the Sovereign in the county, the Lord-Lieutenant has numerous official and social obligations. If he is unable to carry out any of these he may request his Vice Lord-Lieutenant or one of his Deputy Lieutenants to act for him.
The office is held in high honour as a mark of the Lord-Lieutenant’s confidence and any appointment has to be approved by the Queen.
Mr Richard Bayly of Milton Combe
Richard is a recently retired Senior Civic Servant with a long history of family links to Devon and Plymouth. Following a career mainly based in London he returned to the South West to become Director of the Government Office for the South West with a focus on promoting Economic Development (GOSW was abolished in 2011). Richard was given an honorary Doctorate by Plymouth University in 2010. He currently sits on the Board of the University College of St Mark and St John, the Exeter Cathedral Council, the Plymouth Culture Board, the Board of the Barbican Association, the Dean’s Council for Plymouth University Business School and the Board of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry Foundation.
Mrs Patricia Southby-Tailyour of Ermington
Patricia was brought up in North Devon and moved to South Devon following her marriage. She became very involved with SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) and service families welfare throughout her husband’s Royal Marines career and she, along with their two children, spent a period of time in the Falklands during his posting there.
Patricia became a Justice of the Peace to the Plymouth Bench in 1984 rising to the position of Deputy Chairman in 1999. She has a keen interest in dogs, beekeeping, decorative and fine arts, the theatre, belongs to the South Hams Group of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, and is a Patron of the Devon County Lawn Tennis Association.
Wing Commander Brian Wills-Pope of Torquay
Brian was born grew up in the Exeter area. He currently lives in Torquay and, since 1972, has been in business partnership with his wife running Susan’s Flower Shops in Torbay. He was appointed Vice President of the British Florist Association in 2008 and has been Director of Interflora British Unit and Interflora International. Brian was commissioned RAF Voluntary Reserve Officer in 1974 and since then has worked his way to become Officer Commanding 2469 (Exeter St Thomas) Squadron and 200 (Torquay Squadron). He was promoted to Wing Commander in 1997 when he became in charge of the Devon Wing, then Devon & Somerset Wing following the amalgamation of Wings. Brian is currently the Chairman of Devon’s Joint Cadet Committee. He also is Chairman of Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, Governor of Blundell’s School, Trustee of Devon Education Trust and Trustee of the Farringdon Trust. Brian was awarded an MBE for his community services in 2005.
Brigadier Simon Young of Saltash
Simon joined the Army in 1969 and was commissioned into the Devonshire & Dorset Regiment, becoming involved with operational deployments in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and the Balkans for which he was awarded the MBE, OBE and CBE. The final appointment of his 38 years’ service was as Defence Adviser to the British High Commission in Canada. On retirement in 2008 he became the Devon County Colonel for The Rifles and was appointed Honorary Colonel to The Devon Army Cadet Force in August 2010. He is a Trustee of the Devonshire & Dorset Regiment and sits on a fundraising committee for the Army Benevolent Fund. He is also a Trustee for Hamoaze House which provides support services for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Plymouth.
Simon has nurtured a strong interest for drawing and painting which he is now keenly developing. Whilst he does live over the Cornish border his residence does fall within the permitted 7 mile limit from the Devon border which makes him eligible to become a Devon Deputy Lieutenant.