Brinton successor for Worcestershire Lord Lieutenant announced (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Brinton successor for Worcestershire Lord Lieutenant announced

7:50am Tuesday 8th January 2013 in Local By William Tomaney

THE successor to Michael Brinton for Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire has been announced.

Former Army officer Patrick Holcroft has been appointed the Queen’s representative in the county following the death in April last year of Mr Brinton, former chairman of Kidderminster dynasty Brinton’s Carpets.

Mr Holcroft, 64, who grew up in Pershore, near Worcester, and now lives near Tenbury Wells with his wife and three sons, said he was “following in the footsteps of an outstanding man” as he paid tribute to his predecessor.

His duties include arranging visits for the Royal family, presenting honours and awards, leading the local magistracy as chairman of the Lord Chancellor’s advisory committee on justices of the peace and supporting Reserve Forces and Cadets.

Following 19 years of service in the Grenadier Guards, he joined City of London-based merchant banking group Robert Fleming in 1988 and from 2000 until 2009 was chief executive of RFIB insurance group.

He has been a Deputy Lieutenant for the last three years and his duties included helping plan the 2012 Diamond Jubilee visit of The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to Worcester.

Mr Holcroft said: “It is a privilege and an honour to take on this important role.”

He added Mr Brinton’s work had touched many different areas of life in Worcestershire.

“He and his wife, Angela, carried out their duties with integrity, commitment and good humour and I, along with many others, would like to pay tribute to that,” said Mr Holcroft.

The former Lieutenant Colonel is involved with a number of companies, trusts and charities where he is director, trustee and/or advisor, including at the Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown and the Hedley Foundation.

A statement from Number 10 said: “The Queen has been pleased to appoint Lt Col Patrick Holcroft as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the county of Worcestershire to succeed the late Michael Brinton.”