West Berkshire man becomes Vice Lord Lieutenant

James Puxley, of Welford Park, has been appointed Vice Lord Lieutenant for the Royal County of Berkshire

A WEST Berkshire man has been appointed Vice Lord Lieutenant for the Royal County of Berkshire.

Following the retirement of Lady Elizabeth Godsal, James Puxley, of Welford Park, has been given The Queen's approval to the appointment after being recommended by the current Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mary Bayliss.

Mr Puxley, a former High Sheriff of Berkshire and former president of the Newbury and District Agricultural Society, was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire in 2005 and currently serves on the Berkshire committee of the Country Land and Business Association, of which he is a former chairman.

He is also a past chairman of the West Berkshire Anglo-American Community Relations Committee and last year, he was appointed Honorary Colonel of RAF Welford by the incumbent American commander.

Mr Puxley, who has worked full time running the Welford Estate since 1981, also serves on his local Parochial Church Council and has been active in assisting a number of charities within the county, including the Berkshire Community Foundation, of which he was a trustee for six years.

Mr Puxley and his wife also hold numerous events such as snowdrop open days at their home for the benefit of charitable causes, which have included the Red Cross, the Police Rehabilitation Trust, Macmillan Cancer Care and The Watermill theatre.

In his new role, Mr Puxley will assist Mrs Bayliss in her ceremonial and official duties as The Queen's representative in the county.

He took up the role on January 5.