Tony Harking served in the Royal Engineers in which he commanded a close support engineer regiment in Germany and later, as Commandant, The Royal School of Military Engineering. After retiring from the Army in 2011, he became the Head of Programmes at Babcock International Group and in 2016, became the Under Treasurer/Chief Executive of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn. It is one of the four inns of Court comprising…
Dr. Peters has worked in education and community development for over 20 years. Her experience includes curriculum development, university teaching, education program development and management, and grant writing and management. Her research projects focus on women, education, and socio-cultural issues using qualitative methodologies, particularly oral history. Kindell volunteers for several charities assisting with their oral history projects.
Rich Belbin commanded the QOOH Squadron from 2001 to 2003. His subsequent service included a tour in Iraq, Second In Command of 39th (Skinners) Signal Regiment and finally on the staff at Headquarters Royal Signals in Blandford Forum. He is Vice Chair of the Oxfordshire Yeomanry Trust. In civilian life he has worked in the Information Technology / Mobile Telephony industries and held senior appointments as both IT Director and…
Andy Seddon has served in the Grenadier Guards since 2002, with whom he has completed three tours to Afghanistan as well as tours to Iraq and Bosnia. Outside his regiment he has been an Equerry to the late Duke of Edinburgh and at staff has held a number of finance and capability roles in the MoD and Army HQ. Since handing over command of Oxford University OTC in May 23,…
Mike Montagu served in the Light Infantry and then The Rifles commanding the First Battalion Light Infantry, which became 5 Rifles when the new Regiment formed in 2007. Since retiring he worked in facilities management for Sodexo before spending over nine years as Bursar at Ditchley Park prior to taking on a new part time role there as Host & Historian in early 2022. Mike has also been County Colonel for…
Tom is a CIMA-qualified accountant with 35 years experience working in industry in various different sectors. Over that time, he has been able to gain a wide range of accountancy and managerial experience from day-to-day running of business, acquisitions and disposals, financing and refinancing of business and pension funds. Recently Tom has become more involved in community and charity projects using his experience to support the development, inception and running…
David Shouesmith became Chairman of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum in the summer of 2021. He had a 28-year military career which included command at every level and three separate postings within Oxfordshire, to Abingdon, as squadron, regimental and station commander, and which included two tours of Bosnia and one to Afghanistan. His military specialisation was in logistics, support and acquisition, with a particular interest in enabling industry to assume…
Henry has worked for over 20 years in STM (scientific, technical & medical) publishing as an editor and publisher, developing and managing a wide range of print and online resources including medical textbooks, academic journals and educational materials. He has a lifelong passion for history, especially local and military history, and is a founder member of the Great War Group. He is a parish councillor and has previously served as…
Heather joined the Blenheim Palace management team in 2006 moving from an exciting career in hospitality and banqueting in the City of London and working with Government Hospitality team. Her role as Operations Director at Blenheim Palace today is to be responsible for the management of all of the day-visitor facing operations, most notably guest services, security, events, retail and catering but also externally to represent the Estate’s businesses locally…
Marie-Jane is the chairman of the friends and praetorians. She is responsible for organising our most successful events including lunches and parties, just as you would expect from the Lady of Towersey manor. She was High Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 2010 and has a passion for jazz music as well as being a talented jazz singer herself.
