Patrick to represent Queen (From Ledbury Reporter)

Patrick to represent Queen

1:00pm Friday 4th January 2013 in News

A FORMER soldier has been appointed as the Queen’s new representative in Worcestershire.

Lt Col Patrick Holcroft, who has been a deputy lieutenant for the last three years, has been announced as the county’s new Lord Lieutenant.

The 64-year-old succeeds Michael Brinton, former chairman of Kidderminster’s Brinton Carpets, who died last year.

Lt Col Holcroft was brought up in Worcestershire and now lives near Tenbury Wells with his wife and three sons.

Following 19 years’ service in the Grenadier Guards, he pursued a career in London, joining UK merchant banking group Robert Fleming in 1988.

He remained with the bank as a director of the investment management business until it was acquired in 2000, at which point he became chief executive of RFIB insurance group following a buyout from the new owners.

He remained CEO of the group until 2009.

He is also a director, trustee and advisor to a number of companies, trusts and charities, including the Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown, the Lloyds Patriotic, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the Grenadier Guards and the Hedley Foundation.

He said: “It is a privilege and an honour to take on this important role within the county and I much look forward to working with the county council and other important bodies to help further the interests of Worcestershire in the coming years.”

The Lord Lieutenant's duty is to represent the Queen in Worcestershire.