#8963, Edward Thomas BOLITHO

A Cornishman brought up in Penzance, he joined the Grenadier Guards in 1978.  He served with them all over the world and commanded the 1st Battalion in 1993-1995, during which time he was awarded the OBE. He was later Regimental Lieutenant Colonel (I think this means Colonel of the Regiment - Ed.) and, until 2017, a Regimental Trustee. He became a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the New Year’s Honours list 2024.

Having left the Army in 1998, he returned to Cornwall to run the Bolitho Estates on behalf of the wider family. Based in West Cornwall, these businesses rent out, renovate and develop farms, commercial and residential properties. In doing so, they have a strong conservation ethos and also seek to retain and strengthen local communities and businesses. They also manage various leisure activities including Trewidden Garden and Trengwainton Garden (in partnership with the National Trust).

Having been a Deputy Lieutenant since 2008, Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in September 2011 on the retirement of the late Lady Mary Holborow. At the time of his appointment, he was also High Sheriff of Cornwall.

In 2008 he became a member of The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, Her Majesty The Queen’s (now His Majesty the King’s) “Nearest Guard”, of which he is now Clerk to the Cheque and Adjutant. Since 2018 he has been Chairman of the Association of Lord-Lieutenants.

Already closely involved in rural affairs and passionately interested in Cornwall, since becoming Lord-Lieutenant, he has become further involved in a wide range of business and voluntary sector organisations. He has an official role in more than 40 organisations and is involved with many more. These range from community welfare, agriculture, the judiciary, the military, conservation & heritage and youth organisations, to education and the church. In 2020 he was appointed a Bard of Gorsedh Kernow, taking the Bardic name of Lyskannas Rag Kernow.

Edward is married to Alexandra, who is also much involved in Cornish life, particularly through her work with a variety of voluntary organisations including Marie Curie Cornwall, the National Maritime Museum Falmouth and the Cornwall Historic Churches Trust. They have twin daughters (Loveday Pamela A and Octavia Amber E, born 1987 and a son, William Edward M born 1990, all working away from Cornwall at present, two grandchildren and a large number of dependent animals.

Edward is a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths' Company.