Tag: retired

Retiring Deputy Lieutenant Stephen Lowe DL FCIB

Stephen celebrated his 75th Birthday on the 15th March and has retired his Commission. The Lord-Lieutenant thanks him for his dedication in serving the communities of Oldham and Greater Manchester and serving for 8 years as a Deputy Lieutenant.

Stephen was born in 1949; retiring from Banking with the RBS Group in 2013 after 46 years service working throughout the World with the Bank.

His community involvement includes the setting up of Oldham Business Awards, Rochdale Business Awards, and Oldham Sports Awards.

He is currently a Governor at St Herbert’s Primary School Chadderton.

Stephen was previously Chair of Governors at Oldham 6th Form College, Director of Groundwork Trust and Director of Oldham Coliseum.

Stephen currently works with the Stoller Charitable Trust, who provide Grants and Donations throughout the Greater Manchester Area, concentrating on improving the lives of others, with a special emphasis on young people in Oldham.

He was awarded the Ambassador of Oldham 2014, and the Paul Harris Fellowship in 2015 for his services to the community of Oldham.

Appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 2016

His hobbies include being a season ticket holder at Oldham Athletic, and a member of Saddleworth Golf Club.

Stephen is married to Kathleen a Professional Artist. They have 2 children, Michael and Katie, and 5 grandchildren Dylan, Aoife, Conor, Amelie and Eva.

Thank you Stephen from all of us at the GM Lieutenancy.

Retiring Deputy Lieutenant – Mrs Edith Conn OBE JP DL

Edith celebrated her 75th Birthday on the 7th October and has retired her Commission. The Lord-Lieutenant thanks her for her dedication in serving the communities of Greater Manchester and the North West, her charitable work and fundraising and serving for 22 years as a Deputy Lieutenant.

Edith was born in 1948 and was educated at Manchester Metropolitan University where she was awarded a B.A.(Hons) Humanities.

Over the years Edith has given a significant amount of her time to the community and to a number of different charities and charities. She worked as a counsellor with the Citizens Advice Bureau and was the treasurer for the NSPCC. Edith became chairman of Manchester International Exhibition of Expressionism, was a committee member of the North West War Pensions Committee, chairman of Heart Research, Greater Manchester and a committee member of Christie Against Cancer.

Edith joined the Greater Manchester Branch of the British Red Cross in 1978 and since that time has held varied responsibilities including: District co-ordinator, Finance committee member, Branch Trustee, Awards Panel Chairman, 125th Birthday Chairman, North West Chairman of the National Humanity Awards, Landmine Appeal Chairman, a member of the Board for British Red Cross Events Ltd., committee member of the International Red Cross Gala Ball, Honorary Branch Director and chairman of the Manchester Gala Ball. In 1989 Edith was awarded the Badge of Honour for Devoted Service and Honorary Life Membership and in 1993 the Badge of Honour for Continued Dedicated and Distinguished Service. She was appointed Deputy President of The Greater Manchester Red Cross in 1995 and that same year she was appointed Magistrate to the Bolton Bench and became a chairman in 2000. In 1999 she was appointed President of the Greater Manchester Red Cross.

In 2000 Edith was honoured by Her Majesty The Queen when she was awarded the OBE for services to The Greater Manchester Red Cross.

Edith’s interest in the Red Cross continues and grows; she was appointed President of the North West Area of the British Red Cross in 2005 and received the Badge of Honour for Outstanding Service to the British Red Cross.

Edith is a trustee of The Skelton Charity and the Chair of Greater Manchester Committee of CrimeStoppers but the hardest volunteering she has ever done was as Trustee and Chair of We Love Manchester charity in the wake of the Arena bomb.

Edith was appointed High Sheriff of Greater Manchester in 2008 and served a three year tenure as Vice Lord-Lieutenant from 2014 – 2017.

Thank you Edith from all of us at the GM Lieutenancy.

Retiring Deputy Lieutenant – Mrs Khumi Burton JP DL

Khumi celebrated her 75th Birthday on the 21st September and has retired her Commission. The Lord-Lieutenant thanks her for her dedication in serving the communities of Greater Manchester and Cheshire, her charitable work and fundraising and serving for 20 years as a Deputy Lieutenant.

Khumi was born in Manipur, India, near the Burmese Frontier in 1948. After graduation, to avoid following her father’s footstep and join the Indian Civil Service, she joined instead Air India and had postings in Beirut, Hong Kong, Perth and London during her 5 year stint. In 1976 she married Sidney Burton a retired Major with the Cheshire Regiment.

Khumi has spent most of her married life working within the Community in Cheshire and Manchester. She was the Team Attaché for Turks and Caicos during the Commonwealth Games; organiser of the Portico Prize for Literature (a mini Booker Prize of the North); served as member of the Air Transport Users Council (CAA appointment) and sat on Manchester Airport consultative committee; a Board of Visitors for Styal Prison and then a Board member and subsequently Chairman of Greater Manchester Crimestoppers.

She co-ordinated the 750th Anniversary Events of the Parish of Wilmslow in 2000; initiated the Wilmslow Street Party in 2002 to celebrate the Queens Jubilee and is now a yearly Community Event; organised the VJ-Day celebration for Veterans in Wilmslow/Stockport in 2005 and organised visits to Arboretum in Litchfield for the surviving ATS/WRACS.

She raised funds to build much needed houses for earthquake victims and families in Gujarat. She enjoys raising funds and promoting good causes like the Genesis Centre, the Red Cross, Marie Curie, Henshaws for the Blind etc.

Her involvement with the Office for National Statistics as an Interviewer gave her the chance to be in touch with people from all walks of life and background and gave her better understanding and insight of the Society we live in.

Khumi’s enthusiasm for the Community does not diminish. She is currently a Royal Volunteer NHS Responder, a role she undertook during the Covid Pandemic, she also raises awareness of Combat Stress (an Army Charity), especially PTSD by organising fundraising lunches and talks.

She sat as a Magistrate on the Manchester Bench in the Adult Court from 1998 until 2011 and a General Commissioner of Income Tax for Manchester Central and South from 1994.

She is interested and enjoys meeting people from all walks of life and is at ease with them.

Khumi was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2003.

Thank you from everyone at the Greater Manchester Lieutenancy.

Retiring Deputy Lieutenant – Mr. William (Bill) Hampson OBE DL

Bill celebrated his 75th Birthday on the 23rd August and has retired his Commission. The Lord-Lieutenant thanks Bill for his dedication in serving the communities of Greater Manchester and his extensive work abroad helping vulnerable people and for the last 18 years as a Deputy Lieutenant.

Bill is a leading campaigner for human rights and a former founder member of the Jubilee Campaign. He was made a Freeman of Wigan in 2000 for his work, particularly in Eastern Europe.

As a Director of the Epiphany Trust, Bill has developed a range of award winning projects in Romania, with the Karen People in Thailand and Burma and in Sri Lanka as well as founding Chrysalis Holidays – a social enterprise in Greater Manchester providing educational holidays for adults with learning disabilities.

Bill’s background is in surveying in which role he has worked in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He currently sits on the board of ‘Crossroads Global Village’ which companies with surplus goods with charities that need them.
Bill received an OBE in 2020, honoured for ‘Services to vulnerable people overseas’.

An Honorary Rotarian with Newton-le-Willows Jubilee Rotary and President of Lowton Independent Methodist Church. He is married to Pam and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 2005.

Retiring Deputy Lieutenant – Mrs Christine Lee-Jones DL MA MIMgt FRSA

Christine celebrated her 75th Birthday on the 13th June and retired her Commission. The Lord-Lieutenant thanks her for her dedication in serving the communities of Greater Manchester for over 30 years in the education and voluntary sectors and for the last 16 years as a Deputy Lieutenant.

Christine was employed in education both in the state and independent sectors moving from London to Greater Manchester in 1991 to become Principal of Eccles Sixth form College in Salford. She was appointed Head Mistress of Manchester High School for Girls in 1998 and retired from that position in December 2008. During her time in the North West she was and remains committed to voluntary service both in the charity and education sectors.

In the education sector she has been a Governor of both the University of Salford and the University of Manchester and a Member of the General Assembly of the latter. In addition she was a Governor of Altrincham Girls Grammar School, a member of the Further Education Funding Council Quality Assessment Committee, Joint Chairman of the HMC/GSA Professional Development Committee and a member of the GSA Council with responsibility for the training of newly appointed Heads.

On her retirement Christine continued her commitment to public service by becoming a Non Executive Director of the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, a NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool. She was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant in 2007 and appointed a Justice of the Peace in 2008 sitting on both the Trafford and Manchester Benches. She was High Sheriff of Greater Manchester in 2011-12 and in that capacity became a member of The Greater Manchester Police High Sheriff Trust. In 2012 Christine also became a trustee of Prevent Breast Cancer, a post which she continues to hold.

Thank you from everyone at the Lieutenancy.

Retiring Deputy Lieutenant – Wing Cmdr. Roy Catterall DL RAF VR(T)

Roy, in uniform plants a tree, on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant, as part of The Queen's Green Canopy.
Roy plants a tree, on behalf of the Lord-Lieutenant, as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy.

Roy celebrated his 75th Birthday on the 4th June and retired his Commission. The Lord-Lieutenant would like to thank him for his dedication in serving the communities of Greater Manchester for over 50 years, voluntarily supporting young people, veterans and those vulnerable in the community through his engagement with the Air Training Corps, SSAFA (The Armed Forces Charity) and through local support charities. He has also served as a Deputy Lieutenant for 16 years.

Roy was born in 1948 in Droylsden, Tameside and was educated at Moorside Primary School and Littlemoss Secondary School before following his father into the Engineering Industry where he became an apprentice with Mather & Platt Ltd.

Following his apprenticeship he was appointed to a variety of positions in the Company culminating in his appointment as the Training & Safety Officer in 1987. Following redundancy in 1996 he joined Skills Solutions (previously Manchester TEC Ltd) and now holds the position of Training Consultant/Assessor responsible for the recruitment and training of engineering apprentices across Greater Manchester.

Roy and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant eating an ice cream during Armed Forces Day in front of an ice cream van where army cadets are queuing
Roy and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant cool down during Armed Forces Day

Roy joined the Air Training Corps in February 1963 as a cadet at 430 (Droylsden) Squadron rising through the ranks until commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve Training Branch as a Pilot Officer in 1978. He was promoted to Flt Lt in 1982 when he assumed command of the squadron later transferring to 317 (Failsworth) Squadron. In 1998 he was promoted to Squadron Leader and joined the Wing Staff as the Wing Training Officer; Roy was promoted to Wing Commander in January 2002 and assumed command of East Lancashire Wing.

He became Chairman of the Greater Manchester branch of SSAFA in 2011; under his direction, it has flourished.

In 2017 he became a Trustee of a newly formed charity, The Shed Dukinfield, an organisation which helps older men to avoid social isolation by teaching them new skills whilst promoting a healthy lifestyle. His knowledge and experience of working as an Engineer until his retirement meant he was able to quickly understand and assist the men in learning new skills in their retirement. Roy also helps out at the local foodbank.

Roy presents a cheque to the Mayor of Tameside for his charities from the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund. He is joined by members of the Lieutenancy District Committee
As District Committee Chair, Roy presents a cheque to the Mayor of Tameside, for his charities, from the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund

He was a very active and respected Deputy Lieutenant, representing the Lord-Lieutenant, visiting many local charities to support, guide and mentor them as an assessor for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and enthusiastically promoting UK Honours as part of the Lieutenancy Honours Committee.

Roy is married to Pat and the proud father of two daughters, Susanne (a clinical scientist) and Emma (a teacher). He is passionate about the provision of facilities for youth in the community and enjoys cooking and fine wines.

Thank you Roy for your service to the Lieutenancy and your continued service to the communities of Tameside and Greater Manchester.

Retiring Deputy Lieutenant – Mrs Susan Craig JP DL

Susan has recently retired her Commission and The Lord-Lieutenant would like to thank her for her dedication in serving the communities of Greater Manchester for several decades including serving as a Deputy Lieutenant for over 15 years.

Susan was born in 1948 in Uxbridge, Middlesex. Although originally from the South of England, she has lived ‘up North’ for 39 years, residing in Trafford for 33 years.

After leaving school she worked as a secretary, but later undertook further education in Sales and Marketing and was employed by Unilever and Grand Metropolitan Hotels. Having received an offer of marriage at the age of 24, she joined BOAC as a stewardess, to see the world before saying ‘yes’.

When she first moved to Trafford with young children, she and her late husband were involved with Christ Church, Timperley, writing, producing and choreographing pantomimes, and being involved in other social functions to raise funds for the church.

Since 1993 Susan has served as a magistrate on Trafford Bench, during which time she has taken on the responsibilities of Chairman of Trafford Licensing, Betting and Gaming Committee, Chairman of the Selection Panel, appointing magistrate members to the Greater Manchester Police Authority, Chairman of Trafford Bench for three years, Chairman of the Magistrates’ Area Training Committee, responsible for the training of 1800 magistrates on the ten benches across Greater Manchester for 2005 and 2006.

During her time as a magistrate she has given many talks in schools and for local organisations on the work of the magistracy. Her late husband Mike, spent his retirement, following a career as a BBC producer and comedy script writer, lecturing on cruise ships all over the world about the ‘Golden age of Comedy’ and when accompanying him Susan often gave talks about the role of magistrates.

Susan sits on the committees of  ‘Variety the Children’s Charity’, ‘The Royal Society of St. George’, ‘Manchester Rotary’, and is President of Sale (318) Squadron Air Cadets.  She also gives many talks for charity entitled ‘Look Back with Laughter’.

Susan was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 2007. She sat on the Honour’s Committee and regularly gave talks to community groups about the role of Deputy Lieutenant, the Honour’s System and the Queen’s and King’s Awards. Susan also represented the Lord-Lieutenant on many occasions and was a Queen’s/King’s Award for Voluntary Service Assessor.

Thank you Susan from everyone at the Greater Manchester Lieutenancy.

Retiring Deputy Lieutenant, John Willis

John Willis CBE DL DLitt BA(Econ) CPFA

The Lord-Lieutenant would like to thank John who has recently retired from his commission. He has given 16 years of exceptional service to the Lieutenancy and communities across Greater Manchester. Thank you for your service John.

John was Chief Executive of Salford City Council from 1993 until his retirement in 2006. In this capacity he was also Clerk to the Greater Manchester Police Authority.

Prior to being appointed Chief Executive, he was City Treasurer at Salford for seven years.

John studied at the University of Manchester and gained the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Economic and Social Studies and subsequently qualified as an accountant in 1971. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and was an examiner of the institute for many years.

John led the Council officer team that secured funding for the Lowry, one of the twelve Landmark Millennium projects and the National Millennium Project for the Arts. He oversaw much of the development of Salford Quays and the regeneration of Salford.

In 2002 he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa from the University of Salford and in 2006 was appointed a Commander of the British Empire for services to local government in Salford.

Formerly, he was a Trustee of the Lowry and a Council Member of the University of Salford. He is currently Deputy Chair of Salford Royal NHS Hospital Trust and a Trustee and Distributor of the Booth Charities in Salford.

John was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester County in 2006. John has given 16 excellent years of service to the Lieutenancy retiring on 13th December 2022.

Retiring Deputy Lieutenants

The Lord-Lieutenant would like to thank the following Deputy Lieutenants who have recently retired from their commission. All have given exceptional service to the Lieutenancy and communities across Greater Manchester. Thank you for your service.

Colonel Martin Newman MBE DL FCIPR

Born in 1947, Martin Newman was educated at North Manchester Grammar School and Ashton School of Art. He has spent his career in marketing and public relations, is a Fellow and former regional chairman of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and former associate lecturer in PR at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is presently a freelance PR Consultant specialising in the defence industry and charity and not-for-profit sectors.

Martin started his parallel military career as an officer with Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force, later transferring to the 5th Bn The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers posted to the Army’s media operations organisation. He then returned to the ACF where he founded and commanded the national ACF Public Relations Unit, later moving to the Youth and Cadet Policy Unit at the Directorate of Reserve Forces and Cadets at the Ministry of Defence as a special advisor. He was assigned to help the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and the Government of Gibraltar form a cadet organisation and is now Colonel Cadets of the Gibraltar Cadet Force and has been establishing an Alliance between the cadets in Gibraltar and Greater Manchester.

Elected to the Jewish Committee for HM Forces he became vice chairman in 2007, chairman a year later and served until 2018, also acting as a trustee of its associated charity. During this time, he was instrumental in the re-introduction of military Jewish Chaplains in uniform and the provision of kosher operational rations for Jewish personnel.

He was elected National Chairman of the Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen & Women in 2017 and has led the process of rebranding and modernisation of the charity.

He is a member of the Trustees and Management Board of the Fusiliers Museum Collection, Lancashire.

A member of the North West Reserve Forces and Cadets Association he holds the Cadet Forces Medal with four Clasps. He was made an MBE in the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his voluntary work for armed forces personnel.

Michael Greenwood Esq. CBE DL

Michael graduated from Leeds University in Maths and Philosophy in 1968. He worked in the food industry in quality control before going to Bradford University Management Centre to study for a Masters Degree. There he became interested in local government and joined a small research unit which was looking at the reorganisation of local government which was due to happen in 1974.

In that year he joined Leeds City Council where he held a number of increasingly senior management positions, including working as assistant to the Chief Executive. In 1984 he became Chief Executive and County Treasurer of Powys County Council in Wales and took up the post of Chief Executive of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in 1990. Tameside Council achieved excellent status in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment. He left Tameside in 2003 to take up the post of Director of Local Government Practice (North West) for (then) ODPM. This was concerned with improvement and performance across local government in the Region. Since leaving that post in late 2006, Michael has been Chairman of Stockport PCT.

He is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant. He has been a Director of Manchester Training and Enterprise Council, Manchester Enterprises and the Hallé Concerts Society. He was also a Governor of Tameside College of Further Education and a non-executive director of Tameside & Glossop Acute NHS Trust.

Michael was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 2007.

Philip J Horton Esq. DL

Phil was born in 1947 and was educated at Xaverian College, Manchester before studying at the then Manchester Polytechnic Law School. He was articled with Wilding Earley and Pegge and qualified as a Solicitor in 1972; he is currently a Partner in Hague Lambert Solicitors.

Phil has a number of interests but is passionate about the Scouting Movement. He became a Scout in 1959 and has held numerous positions in the county such as District Commissioner, County Commissioner and is currently County chairman of Greater Manchester East Scout County, a position he has held since 2002.

Phil is Chairman of the Board of Governors of two Primary Schools in Stockport and Manchester and is a Member of Education The Appeals Panel for Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council dealing with admissions and exclusions from schools.

Phil has been married to Maureen since 1972 and he was made a Deputy Lieutenant in 2004.

Ms Susan K. Hodgkiss CBE DL

Sue was born in Bolton in 1950 and is currently the Managing Director of the family owned Steelwork Fabricator, William Hare Group Limited. Her company has an annual turnover of £180M, with 1300 employees that include the India Office and UAE fabrication facility.

William Hare Limited is a significant supporter of the Arts, Healthcare, Homeless, Education, military and ex-service people’s charities and the disabled.

Sue has made a significant contribution to the life of the community over the years. She is currently President of Emmaus, Bolton and Patron of the Association of Emmaus North West; she has been a member since 1999 having served on the committee for three years. Sue is Patron of the Octagon Theatre in Bolton and served as the Appeals Director of the rescue package that ensured theatre remained operative. For three years she served on the Board of the Royal Exchange and for the past two years as a member of the Board of Chetham’s School of Music. Sue has also served as a member of the Standards & Remuneration Committee for Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council and has been a Director Bolton Training Group, a Governor and the Director of the Bursary Appeals at Bolton School.

Sue was made a Deputy Lieutenant in 1999, High Sheriff of Greater Manchester in the year 2003 – 2004 and was honoured with a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2009.

Amongst her interests Sue lists the Theatre, sailing, game and clay pigeon shooting, skiing, music, tennis and salmon fishing. From 1981 – 83 she represented Great Britain in Clay Pigeon Shooting in the European Championships in Moscow, and the Grand Prix in Belgium, France, Spain.