Local people honoured in Who's Who 2016

Former Newbury Weekly News reporter is included

THE Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, a former Newbury Weekly News reporter and two other former pupils of St Bartholomew’s School in Newbury are among new entries in Who’s Who.

Published this month, the 2016 edition of the tome contains potted biographies of 33,000 of some of the most famous, talented and influential people in the world.

Inclusion is by invitation only, adding to the honour and cachet.

The Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, James Puxley (pictured), is no stranger to the West Berkshire community, having previously held the titles of High Sheriff of Berkshire, president of the Royal County of Berkshire Show, chairman of the Anglo-American Community Relations Committee for West Berkshire and Honorary Commander of RAF Welford.

The 67-year-old is also well known for his links with many local charities and voluntary organisations including the Community Foundation, the Police Rehabilitation Trust and the Country Land and Business Association.

And, of course, he is head of one of the district’s most well-established families, and owner of the picturesque Welford Park, a private estate that is temporarily opened to the public each year for its glorious display of snowdrops for which the park is renowned.

The first St Bartholomew’s School alumni is multi award-winning poet and professor of poetry at the University of Manchester, Professor Michael Roberts, aged 52.

After reading philosophy and theology at Oxford University, he returned to work as a reporter for the NWN from 1986 to 1989.

The other two St Barts alumni are Professor Alan Gregory, aged 61, professor of corporate finance at the University of Exeter in Devon and 53-year-old Susan Hayman, the Upper Bucklebury-born Labour MP for Workington in Cumbria.

Everyone in Who’s Who is invited to compile his or her own entry, so they can be as long or as short as celebrities wish.

The entries of the quartet are comparatively brief and modest.

MP Sue Hayman tells her life story in just nine-and-a-half lines, while James Puxley explains his life and achievements in nine lines

They will all now remain in Who’s Who until they die, when they will be automatically transferred to Who’s Who’s sister publication, Who Was Who.

The 2016 edition of Who’s Who is published by A&C Black at £280.St Bartholoew's School