Our Patrons
We are pleased to acknowledge the support of our patrons
James Michael Joicey (5th Baron Joicey of Chester-le-Street), 

Born 1953

BA(Hons) in Modern Languages [Portuguese and Spanish], University of Oxford  
Diploma in Portuguese Studies, University of Coimbra (Portugal)
Diploma in Agriculture, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester

Associateship of the Royal Agricultural Societies (ARAgS)

1976-1981: Teacher of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

1982-1991:  Self-employed translator/interpreter/consultant in the agricultural sector

1991 to date:   Principal Director of Ford & Etal Estates, a 5500 ha. (13,600 acres) rural estate in the Till Valley and Berwickshire, encompassing agriculture, forestry and residential property, with a strong emphasis on rural tourism and rural diversification. 

2012 to date:  Co-director of Flodden 1513 Ecomuseum Ltd.

Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Northumberland
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Associateship of the Royal Agricultural Societies;  
President, Glendale Agricultural Society;
President, Friends of Berwick & District Museum & Archives; 
President, North Northumberland Voluntary Forum;
President, North Northumberland Tourism Association;   
President, Tillside Cricket Club
President, Etal Horticultural Society
Vice-President, Border Stick Dressers Association;      
Vice-President, Border Union Agricultural Society;  
Trustee: Tweed Foundation
Trustee: The Joicey Trust
Trustee: John George Joicey Bequest

Trustee: Heatherslaw Mill Trust   

Other interests:  ornithology, linguistics and trying to look after a Morris Minor Traveller
Bridget Phillipson MP

Bridget grew up in Washington. She entered Parliament as MP for Houghton & Sunderland South in 2010. In April 2020, she was appointed to Keir Starmer’s first Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. In November 2021, she was promoted to be Shadow Secretary of State for Education.
Lord Shipley

John Shipley has been a member of the House of Lords since 2010. He was Leader of Newcastle City Council from 2006 to 2010, where he was a Liberal Democrat councillor for 36 years. He was a board member of One North East, the regional development agency, for several years and was chair of the Theatre Royal Trust during its major refurbishment.

John has a keen interest in North East industrial history. He was a member of the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority in the 1990s and again from 2004 to 2006.

John worked for many years with The Open University and was Regional Director for the North and the European Union for 8 years until 2005. He was awarded the OBE for political and public service in 1995.