Deputy Lieutenants of Cumbria

Julia is Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land and Professor of Practice in Protected Areas at the University of Cumbria’s Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas. Julia started work in SE Asia as an environmental economist and later returned to Cumbria working as an agricultural valuer. Her PhD was in Law and Julia specialises in negotiating multi-partite agreements for improving farming and environmental outcomes from common land. Julia from 2014-2019 was a Board Member of Natural England. Julia lives near Armathwaite in the Eden Valley with her husband, Charles Weir. Their two children are away studying and working. Julia was involved in establishing Susan’s Farm CIO... read more

Jackie has over 40 years’ experience in business and financial management, holding senior roles with BAE Systems, Europe’s largest defence contractor. Born in Barrow-in-Furness, she was educated at Barrow Girls’ Grammar School and later qualified as a chartered accountant. She spent a decade with Edison Mission Energy, starting as Company Accountant and becoming Managing Director of its Barrow facility. Jackie then joined BAE Systems as Chief Accountant, later leading strategy and developing a 10-year business plan with a 30-year vision. From 2017 to 2019 she was Pro Vice-Chancellor for Employer Engagement at the University of Cumbria, where she established the Institute for Business, Industry and Leadership... read more

Julie Barton grew up in Ulverston and still lives nearby with her husband, Peter. They have two sons. She is co-owner and HR Director at Forge Europa, an LED lighting company based in Ulverston and Dalton-in-Furness, and was instrumental in the company being awarded a Queen’s Award for Outstanding Innovation. Julie served as High Sheriff of Cumbria in 2020-21. She is a trustee of The Sir John Fisher Foundation, the Lady Maria Fisher Foundation and the Neuro Research Trust. She is a member of Cumbria Community Foundation’s Furness Grants Panel and a catechist in her home parish in Ulverston. She has previously served as a Governor of Furness College and as a Director of Love Barrow Families.

David grew up on a mixed farm in Nottinghamshire, where his family have farmed for over 160 years. The youngest of five, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. After moving into general management in the printing and packaging industries, he relocated to Cumbria in 1987 to run Smith Brothers (Whitehaven) Limited and later progressed into international roles within the owning group. In 2004 he became CEO of Innovia Group in Wigton, overseeing major investments including a new plant to produce polymer banknote substrate for the Bank of England. He retired in 2015, by which time the business had manufacturing sites in Wigton, Belgium, USA, Australia, and Mexico, with customers in over 100 countries. Following... read more

Andy is Chief Executive of Cumbria Community Foundation. He previously worked as a Researcher with the Forestry Commission, in Social Care and Community Transport, and immediately before joining the Foundation was Rural Community Officer and then Deputy Director with Voluntary Action Cumbria (now ACT). He studied Environmental Science at the University of Bradford and has become a leading figure in philanthropy, leading the Foundation for over 25 years and making it a national leader in fundraising and grant-making. He has overseen appeals for major county emergencies, including the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak, the 2005 and 2015 floods, and the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the Grenfell fire ...read more

Ian was born near Wigton and was brought up on the family farm. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant and in 1982 was a founding partner of Cumbrian accountancy firm Dodd & Co, providing accountancy and tax advice to rural clients locally and nationally. Ian recently retired but continues to work with the firm on a consultancy basis. Ian was part of the 1999 steering group that set up Cumbria Community Foundation, and was a Trustee for 18 years, retiring as Chairman in 2017. He served for over 30 years as Chairman of national award-winning Silloth Nursing Home, a registered charity. In 2023 Ian was awarded the Blamire Medal for services to agriculture in the old county of Cumberland. Ian lives north of Carlisle with his wife Jeanette.

Philip was appointed Deputy Lieutenant in April 2020 and is currently serving as the Senior Staff Officer for the Sea Cadets in the North West covering 46 units, having previously served as the District Officer for Lakeland District working with units across Cumbria. Philip has worked at BAE Submarines in various roles across a number of major defence programmes for over 40 years. Eventually retiring as Head of Engineering Stage 2/3 on the Dreadnought Programme. In 2012 Philip was awarded an MBE for services to the Defence Industry in recognition of his work on the Queen Elizabeth Carrier Programme. Philip is also a member of the Cumbria & Lancashire Magistrate recruitment advisory committee and the North West region ...read more

Rob was born in Birkenhead and educated at Wirral County Grammar School for Boys and the University of Sussex from which he was awarded a BA (Hons) in Social Psychology. He has spent almost 50 years working in the building society movement and became Deputy Chief Executive of Cumberland Building Society, Chief Executive of Furness Building Society, and Chairman of Penrith Building Society. Whilst with the Furness he became Chairman of the Northern Association of Building Societies and a Council member of the Council of Mortgage Lenders. Rob is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Chartered Management Institute. Rob has held various community positions including being the first ...read more

Sir Tony was born in Workington in 1952, and educated St Mary’s Harrington, Workington Grammar School, the University of Liverpool, and Didsbury College Manchester. During his career in education, he taught at Alsager Comprehensive School, Cheshire; Mikunguni Trade School, Zanzibar; and Netherhall School, Maryport. In his political life, he has served as a Workington Town Councillor and Mayor of Workington; an Allerdale District Councillor and Leader of Allerdale Borough Council; a Member of The European Parliament for Cumbria and North Lancashire; a Member of Parliament for Workington; and a Government Minister under Prime Ministers Blair and Brown. He was knighted in 2012.

Sarah is Chair of Westmorland Limited, which operates motorway services in Cumbria, Gloucestershire and Scotland. A second-generation family business, it seeks to celebrate its locality by working closely with its communities. In addition to this, Sarah is a Trustee of the Francis Scott Trust which supports young people in Cumbria, an Honorary Fellow of the University of Cumbria, Patron of Eden Valley Hospice and an Ambassador for the Scout movement in Cumbria. Sarah was born in Cumbria where she lives with her husband and two children.

Working in partnership with her husband Peter, Iona has transformed Muncaster Castle into a consistently award-winning attraction. In 2003 Muncaster won England’s Best Small Visitor Atrraction (less than 100,000 visits) in the ‘England for Excellence Awards’. In the same year, Iona also won ‘Cumbrian Business Woman of the Year’. Iona has a huge interest in rural diversification. A farmer by profession, she cares passionately for Cumbria agriculture, as well as the tourism industry. Iona is the Managing Director of Muncaster Estate and The Muncaster Partnership, Director and Company Secretary of Muncaster Visitor Management Limited and Company Secretary of Third Millennium Muncaster Limited. She is also a Parish Councillor ...read more

Caz Graham grew up on a mixed farm near Carlisle, went to Keswick School and has lived with her family in Kendal for the last 20 years. She’s a regular presenter and reporter on BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today and On Your Farm. As a freelance radio journalist, she’s been a familiar Cumbrian voice on numerous Radio 4 programmes over the last 25 years including Today, PM, Open Country, Pick of The Week and Woman’s Hour and loves to bang the drum for her home county. Her early career had her reading out the famous lamb bank and the fatstock prices on BBC Radio Cumbria. After a few years making tv and radio programmes for BBC Scotland, she was drawn back home and was living in the Northern Fells during the devastating ...read more

Bryan has served as Pro-Chancellor of Lancaster University, and Chairman of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, of Peel Media Group (MediaCityUK), of Westmorland Ltd (motorway services and Rheged Centre), of Liverpool European Capital of Culture in 2008, of Preston North End FC, and founder Chairman of the National Football Museum. He is the founder Chairman of the Lowther Castle and Gardens Trust and also of the Cumbria County History Trust, and a Lay Canon of Carlisle Cathedral. He is Chairman of RESTORE (a Christian charity supporting local communities), and of the Settle and Carlisle Railway Trust. He has served as High Sheriff of Lancashire and is a Vice President of the National Churches Trust.

London born, Tess has lived in Cumbria for 50 years Mother of three and grandmother to five, she became involved in charity fundraising and volunteering while caring for her special needs daughter, campaigning for Special Educational Needs Provision, working on the NSPCC Full Stop campaign, and participating in annual NSPCC events. A trustee of Carlisle MENCAP and Crossroads (Caring for Carers), Tess was honoured with an MBE for services to the community in Carlisle in 2012. Tess’s 25 year association with Cumbria Woman of the Year began as nominee. She became Vice Chair and, ultimately, Chair. Separately, she has organised four fundraising balls, Roaring 20s (supporting the Crossroads charity), Mardi Gras ...read more

Jane Hasell-McCosh, based at Dalemain near Penrith, Cumbria, is a British gardener, cultural ambassador, and the founder of the World Marmalade Awards and Festival. Born Elizabeth Jane Hasell-McCosh, she has dedicated much of her life to promoting local culture and heritage. In 2005, following the foot-and-mouth outbreak that devastated Cumbria, she established the Marmalade Awards to support the local economy and celebrate the art of marmalade making. What began as a small local competition has grown into a globally renowned event, attracting thousands of entries from countries including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The festival is celebrated for its whimsical and engaging atmosphere, featuring ...read more

Chris moved to Cumbria in 1991 from J Bibby & Sons Agriculture Division to take up the role of Managing Director of Carr’s Milling Industries Agriculture Division. In 1994 he was appointed Chief Executive of the Group, a position he held until becoming Chairman in 2013. He retired in 2020 when the renamed Carr’s Group plc had 71 Agriculture and Engineering locations around the world, supplying products and services to over 50 countries. In 2014 Chris was awarded the Blamire Medal for services to Agriculture in the old county of Cumberland and awarded the CN Business Award for a lifetime contribution to Cumbria. He was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the University of Cumbria in 2015 and Deputy Lieutenant in ...read more

Debbie was born in Nottingham, brought up in Essex, and graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Metallurgy in 1977. She initially worked as an engineer for Pirelli Cables in Southampton, and moved to Cumbria in 1979, to work in research and development at Sellafield, focusing on nuclear plant inspection and corrosion. She remained at Sellafield for 37 years in technical, skills development, and management roles, and retired in 2016. She has held multiple roles in Girlguiding, and served as County Commissioner (2002-2007). She was awarded the Girlguiding Laurel Award in 2001, Cumbria Woman of the Year in 2009, and an MBE in 2015. Her current voluntary roles include: Committee Member and ...read more

Born in London, Ontario, Canada in 1966, Mark is married to Jeanne, a Cumbrian by birth and after 17 different house moves, all over the UK and the world, they finally settled in Cumbria in 2014. Having joined the Royal Air Force in 1984, he has served on operational deployments in Afghanistan, Kuwait, the Falkland Islands and Saudi Arabia. Awarded the OBE for services to RAF families in 2015, he now leads the RAF Air Cadet Organisation in the North of England, some twelve thousand cadets and adult volunteers. Mark has two grown-up children, one of whom is also in the Royal Air Force, and enjoys walking and cycling.

Professor Mennell is a Physics and Mathematics graduate of the University of Leeds. Prior to becoming Vice Chancellor at the University of Cumbria, Professor Mennell held the positions of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development) and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) for the University of Sunderland, leading on portfolio and partnership development, academic and research provision, student experience and outcomes. Professor Mennell’s academic field of interest is in forensic and crime scene science, involving contributions to forensic science strategy, education and workforce development in the UK and overseas, including her serving on the Home Office Forensic Science Advisory Council and the Skills for Justice... read more

Robert Morris-Eyton was educated at Shrewsbury School and Cirencester. He is a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and a Fellow of the Association of Agricultural Valuers. Since 1988 he has been involved in the family dairy and sheep farming business, Morris-Eyton & Son. He is also Managing Director of Beckside Construction Ltd, a company working on hydroelectric schemes, and works as a consultant land agent for PFK Land Agents from his farm in South Cumbria. Robert has been a director of a local agricultural show, a trustee of the Blamire Trust, and a past chairman of the Millom Town Deal Board. He enjoys working gundogs, shooting, and stalking and lives with his wife and three children.

Adam is a landowner and antiquarian bookseller. Raised in Cumbria, he has a doctorate from the University of Edinburgh, where he taught part-time. Returning to Cumbria in 1992, he served as High Sheriff in 2005/06. He was Chairman of the Lakeland Arts Trust from 1996 to 2012, buying and restoring Blackwell the Arts & Crafts House, and adding the Windermere Steamboat Museum (now The Jetty) to the Trust’s portfolio. Currently he is Chairman of Cumbria Gardens Trust and Churches Trust for Cumbria. He served nine years as a Trustee of Cumbria Community Foundation and ten as Chairman of his local Parochial Church Council. Married to Marianne, his partner in the bookselling business, as in life. Their daughter Claire also lives and works in Cumbria.

Richard Ogden has devoted his career to public service and, more recently, to charitable and NGO work that focuses on improving lives and creating sustainable change. His efforts span both the UK and international contexts, with a particular emphasis on youth development, sustainability, and community resilience. He is actively involved with several charities and foundations, where he provides strategic guidance and practical support to initiatives that empower people, broaden opportunities, and foster long-term positive outcomes. His work brings together a focus on sustainability with a commitment to building stronger, more inclusive communities, ensuring that charitable projects deliver meaningful and lasting impact. In ...read more

Sam was born in Kendal and has lived and worked almost all his life in and around Windermere. He was educated at Heversham Grammar School, following which he worked as a volunteer in Uganda, prior to joining the family business. His working career was as Managing Director and Chairman of Windermere-based Lakeland Limited. Sam has served on a number of industry related boards, including the Food Freezer Council, the Microwave Association, Cumbria Rural Enterprise, and the Show Exhibitors Association. He has held board, governor, officer or committee roles with Lakeside YMCA, Westmorland Agricultural Society, Kendal College, Sedbergh School, Kendal Sea Cadets. He was a Fellow of Brathay Trust ...read more

Marcia was born in London and moved to New York as a child where she was raised and attended university studying Sociology, Psychology and Family Therapy, before going on to work in these fields in a variety of roles in Massachusetts. In 1997, Marcia moved to Cumbria where she has owned and managed dental practices with her husband, Jim, and worked as a psychologist/family therapist for ten years for the NHS in Carlisle. Marcia has held and continues to hold a wide range of board appointments across the county’s educational, health, cultural, charity, business and sports organisations. Marcia was appointed Cumbria’s High Sheriff for 2019-20 and a Deputy Lieutenant in 2020. Marcia served for 20 years ...read more

Gerard was born in 1962 and is married to Dianne. They have four children and ten grandchildren. After school Gerard joined the Royal Navy, serving as an Air Engineer on helicopters before becoming a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician at Sellafield. Since 1995 he has been a shopkeeper in Whitehaven and volunteered for the community for 30 years. He co-founded a youth club in 1993 and served as a JP from 1994 to 2014. He is currently on the Supplemental Bench. From 1999-2015 he was CEO of the Whitehaven Maritime Festival Company. Since 2015 he has liaised with Whitehaven Town Council to organise events including markets, exhibitions and science shows. He was awarded the MBE in 2010 for services to Cumbria.

Chris was brought up in Ambleside and Grasmere, and educated at Heversham Grammar School. He returned to Cumbria in 2013 after a 30-year career in the Army and eight years providing risk management support to governments and international organisations working in challenging environments. In the not-for-profit field, Chris was influential in the development of professional and human rights standards for the UK and international private security industries, and was awarded an OBE in 2015 for his contribution to human rights, conflict prevention and the international private security industry. More recently Chris has led Cumbria’s Army Benevolent Fund, Cumbria Scouts and Patterdale Mountain Rescue, and served ...read more

Caroline has a mix of appointments in the arts and media. In 2023 she stepped down as Chair of Digital UK, the body responsible for digital terrestrial television and was a Director of CN Media group. In the arts, she is a Trustee of Tullie House, English National Ballet, the National Gallery Trust and until 2016 was Deputy Chair of the National Gallery. Caroline is a Non-executive Director of Videndum plc. She has been a Non-executive Director of one of the NHS regulatory bodies and a Non-executive Director of UK Government Investments. Until 2020 Caroline was Chair of Oxfam. Caroline stepped as Chief Operations Officer at the BBC in 2012 after serving 12 years as a member of the Executive Board.

Susie has lived in Cumbria for over 20 years and was appointed Deputy Lieutenant in 2022. Previously, she has been President of St John Ambulance Cumbria and Honorary Colonel of Cumbria’s Army Cadet Force. Currently, she is Chairman of Beetham Poor Charity, Trustee of the Tattershall Almshouse, President of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) for Cumbria and a non-executive director on the Board of the CLA. Susie sits on the Livery of the Drapers‘ Company in the City of London, and is involved in their Charities Committee, Hall and Heritage Committee and Drapers’ Den. She is passionate about Cumbria, the countryside and saving the red squirrel.

Juliet was born in Suffolk in 1956. She married Richard Westoll, a Cumbrian farmer in 1981, and they have two children and five grandchildren. Juliet founded and ran Cumbria Women of the Year for 20 years and is now its Patron. She is also a Patron of Hospice at Home Carlisle & North Lakeland, a Divisional Vice President for the NSPCC, a Trustee for The Cumbria Churches Trust, and President and Trustee of the Carlisle Branch of Riding for the Disabled. She is also a strong supporter of her local church, Kirkandrews on Esk, a keen gardener, and a very hands-on granny. Juliet was High Sheriff of Cumbria in 2012/2013 and sat on the national High Sheriffs’ Association Council for six years. She was awarded an MBE for ...read more

Peter, a Chartered Engineer, was born in Whitehaven and has lived in Cumbria for all but a few years after university. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a University of Cumbria Honorary Fellow and founding director of a number of successful engineering and technology companies, many based in Cumbria, including REACT Engineering, HiDef Aerial Surveying, CREATEC and Sportlight. Peter is founder and Chairman of the REACT Foundation, a charity encouraging young people from West Cumbria to pursue further education in science and technology, and takes a hands-on approach to inspiring young people into the profession. Peter lives in West Cumbria with his wife Alison and they have three children.