Buckinghamshire welcomes three new Deputy Lieutenants

Three new Deputy Lieutenants for Buckinghamshire have been announced today.

They are Ms Melanie Beck MBE, Mr Bill Morris LVO and Lt Col (Ret) Lyndon Robinson.

They receive their commission to take on the role as Deputy Lieutenants from The Countess Howe, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire.

Deputy Lieutenants are chosen from across Buckinghamshire to support the work of the Lord-Lieutenant and promote the wellbeing of the county.  Reflecting a broad range of services to the community, cultural background, ethnic mix, gender and social range, their local and specialist knowledge and experience is increasingly being used to positive effect in key sectors ranging from education to youth services, and from business to the rural economy. They are the eyes and ears of the Lieutenancy in our local communities and liaise closely with many organisations throughout the County. From Milton Keynes in the north to the very south of Buckinghamshire there are currently 29 Deputy Lieutenants.

Congratulating the new Deputy Lieutenants on their appointments, Lady Howe said: "These Deputy Lieutenant appointments come with my warmest wishes for a successful and rewarding period in office. Each brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to serving the community and have so much to offer the county. I look forward to working with them for the benefit of our communities."

Ms Melanie Beck

Melanie is the Former Chief Executive of MyMiltonKeynes, Business Improvement District (BID) based in Central Milton Keynes. She was responsible for consulting and establishing the BID ten years ago, driving over £10 million of business investment into the city centre making this one of the biggest BIDs in the country. She was awarded her MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in October 2021 for her voluntary community work during the Covid Pandemic.

Melanie was the Chairman of the Performance Management of British Olympic Diving, and British High Diving until the end of her term.  She has represented Great Britain since 2007 at World Aquatics, the World Governing body for aquatic sports holding the position of Honorary Secretary to the Technical Diving Committee. She has attended and technically managed four Olympic Games, 10 World Championships and five Junior World Championships. She has been appointed the Technical Delegate to two Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Birmingham and attended a further two.

Melanie Is the Chairman of the Trustee Board of MK SNAP and SportsAid Eastern region.  She is a volunteer chaplain at Milton Keynes University Hospital and is the Corps officer at Milton Keynes Salvation Army following in the footsteps of four generations of her family.

Mr Bill Morris, LVO

Bill advises the International Olympic Committee and other worldwide clients in major events and complex cultural projects. He chairs an annual UK landmark event, and a leading entertainment architecture practice whilst Co-chairing The Buckinghamshire Cultural Partnership. He is also a trustee for an event-legacy, grant-giving charity, whilst continuing post-graduate studies at the University of Oxford. He has served as a senior executive in Media and an Advisor to the UK Government.

From 2006 to 2013 Bill was responsible for the team which delivered the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Ceremonies including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and Torch Relays. As one of the Organising Committee Executive Directors, he was also responsible for Education, Live Sites and formation of the Cultural Olympiad. 

Since 2013 he has advised the International Olympic Committee and Games Organising Committees of every Olympic Games on a similar range of topics. He is currently working with hosts in Milan, Los Angeles and Brisbane. 

Bill joined London 2012 from the BBC where he worked in radio and TV production and later in senior management. Most recently, as Project Director, Live Events, he was responsible for many of the BBC's major events. These included the `BBC Music Live' Festival and The Queen's Concerts at Buckingham Palace (for which he was awarded the 'LVO' in The Queen's Jubilee Honours List).

Bill served on the Radio Academy's Council from the early 1990s and as Chair from 1998-2001. He was awarded a Fellowship in July 2001. He was granted the Olympic Order of Merit in 2012. Bill is a Life Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He completed a Masters Degree in Sustainable Urban Development at the University of Oxford in 2023 and continues research.

Bill and his wife Kate, have two grown up children and have lived in South Buckinghamshire for over 30 years.

Lt Col (Ret) Lyndon Robinson

Born in Aylesbury and educated locally Lyndon was raised in the care of a loving foster family.  He joined the Army in 1984 after a Fishery Science degree at Plymouth Polytechnic where he did his industrial phase working trawlers out of Brixham.

He saw active service in four Theatres and unusually for an Army Officer he commanded a ship.  He retired in 2020 as the Commanding Officer Bicester Garrison.

He is privileged to be the honorary colonel of the Buckinghamshire Army Cadet Force and Chair of the Buckinghamshire Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association.  He is also a lay member of the Oxford Diocese.

His interests include bell ringing and amateur dramatics.  He has had a couple of books independently published and has contributed to poetry anthologies.  Lyndon has been married to Eleanor for 34 years and they have two grown up daughters.