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.
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 served as Chief Executive of Exeter City Council until his retirement in 2013. He then served as Chair of Exeter College for 6 years before taking up his current role as Vice Chair of the Ted Wragg Multi Academy Trust. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Exeter in 2014 and made a Freeman of the City of Exeter in 2022. Philip is passionate about all things Devonian but, in particular, raising the educational outcomes and aspirations for Devon’s young people and further developing the economic success and dynamism of the County. He now lives 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.
Dinah Cox OBE DL – Dinah lives just outside Exeter, and Devon has been her home since she left her hometown of London in 2014. She is currently working as Interim CEO for the grant-making trust, Devon Community Foundation, which she chaired from 2020. She is a Non-Executive Director for Devon and Cornwall Police and a Member of the National Trust’s South West Regional Advisory Group. She is also a member of South West Water’s WaterShare + Advisory Panel which aims to boost customer engagement with the organisation and provide an independent review of their work. She has over thirty years’ experience working to influence, develop and fund social change both in paid and trustee work and in 2008 she was awarded an OBE for her services to communities as well as receiving the Freedom of the City of London. When time allows, you will find her in her garden trowel in hand…
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.
Mark Dowie CBE DL – was Chief Executive of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from 2019 to 2024. He initially joined the RNLI in as a volunteer at Salcombe Lifeboat Station, giving him first-hand experience of leading and volunteering within the organisation. He is a non-executive director of the Navy Board and the Sovereign Group. Mark has significant international corporate leadership experience having been a senior commercial and investment banking professional who was most recently Chief Executive Officer, Corporate & Institutional Bank at Standard Chartered Bank. Mark is also a former Royal Navy Supply Officer, serving between 1982 and 1990. In addition, Mark has owned and managed a successful marine services company in Salcombe, and he served as a magistrate in Devon. He lives in the South Hams.
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 the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Association. Since retirement in 2015, Gordon is active with several organisations and charities including the Wessex Reserve Forces and Cadet Association, RAF Air Cadets, where he is President of 1064 (Honiton) Squadron, The Royal Air Forces Association, and the Armed Forces Charity, SSAFA, where he is 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.
Arezoo Farahzad DL – Television Producer / Director specialising in food and lifestyle programmes. Her career took her to many corners of the world and for almost a quarter of a century she immersed herself in the cuisine, culture and traditions of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. She now hosts a monthly ‘International Dinner’ in Plymouth that regularly attracts over 100 people from 25+ nationalities, empowering individuals to teach others about their culture through a traditional dish. She also chairs Plymouth Centre for Faiths and Cultural Diversity (PCFCD), a unique Plymouth educational charity that brings to life the practice of world Faiths and Cultures in both schools and the wider community. PCFCD’s annual Interfaith Festival has now become a firm fixture in Plymouth’s civic diary. Born in Iran, Arezoo moved to the UK at the age of 9 with her parents. She herself is learning the spiritual path of the Bahá’i Faith.
Dr Peta Foxall CBE DL – Peta has lived in Devon for the last 20 years, moving here from London to work at the University of Exeter. Her expertise and interests span the public and charitable sectors, focusing on healthcare, higher education and the natural environment. She is an advocate for volunteering in local communities and a supporter of youth social action. She is a life member of Devon Wildlife Trust and was the national Chair of the Wildlife Trusts 2017-2022. She is currently the Senior Independent Trustee on the Board of the NHS Confederation.
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.
Andrew Kennon DL – lives in East Devon. He was a House of Commons Clerk (parliamentary official) for nearly 40 years, in wig and gown in the Chamber giving procedural advice and leading the select committee system. He moved to Devon with his young family in 1992 and commuted weekly. Recently he has been a Judicial Appointments Commissioner, dealing especially with High Court selections. He has been a member of the Independent Monitoring Board at HM Prison Exeter since 2017 and has started volunteering at a National Trust chapel. Sailing is his main hobby.
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.
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 OBE 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.
Paul Netherton OBE DL – lives in East Devon and was previously Deputy Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police and is nationally regarded as an expert on civil contingencies, resilience and risk management. He was the national police lead for civil contingencies for over ten years, head of UK national maritime security and chaired the South West strategic group in response to Covid. He was president of the Christian Police Association and has led the Faith and Police initiatives building links between faith communities and the Police Service. In 2020, Paul was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty for his work in relation to Police and civil contingencies and in 2021 was awarded the title of Honorary Member of the Public Health Faculty by the Royal College of Physicians for his role with the Covid Pandemic.
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).
Reverend Prebendary Professor Gina Radford DL – Gina is a part time Vicar in rural Devon looking after seven villages on the edge of Dartmoor, a job she began in June 2019. She trained as a doctor, and has had a long history in public health at local, national and international levels. Prior to her current role Gina was Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, and had a particular interest in work and health, working closely with DWP colleagues. Gina is also a Non Executive Director with HSE and DWP. When not working her hobbies include walking, “running” with her collie dog, being outdoors and reading. Her particular areas of interest are health, faith, the arts, anything outdoors and to do with nature animals.
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. A keen walker and sailor, and an Exeter Chiefs season ticket holder, Chris has held the position of Vice Lord-Lieutenant since May 2024.
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 forester and farmer living to the west of Exeter. He is a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Tax Adviser and an accredited mediator. He was previously the chair 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 the chair of Treeconomics Ltd and Adapt Biogas. He is involved in a number of rural charities including as Honorary Treasurer for the Devon County Agricultural Association and chair of the trustees of the Seale Hayne Education Trust.
Teresa Turner DL – With a background in business and accountancy, Teresa has been closely involved with charities for most of her career living in North Devon for nearly forty years After a period of commercial experience, Teresa worked for a professional accountancy practice for many years. She was audit, corporate and charity partner in a regional firm before setting up her own practice, subsequently joining a leading South West firm. Commercial roles included finance director for a property developer, freelance FD and credit insurance underwriter. Currently a Trustee for Calvert Exmoor and listening volunteer and trainer for another charity, past voluntary roles included various trusteeships, school governor, in both state and private sectors, and two terms as Trustee and Treasurer of the North Devon Hospice.
Adrian Vinken CBE DL – Adrian founded the pioneering Leadmill music venue and developed a number of other inner city regeneration capital projects in Sheffield during the 1980’s. After moving to Plymouth, Adrian’s 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, 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.