LORD Shuttleworth will succeed Sir Simon Towneley as the Lord Lieutenant for Lancashire.

Lord Shuttleworth was born at historic Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham, in 1948 and christened Geoffrey Phillip in All Saints Church, Habergham. He is chairman of the Rural Development Commission and director and deputy chairman of Abbey National plc.

Lord Shuttleworth, of Leck Hall, near Carnforth, inherited the title in 1975 after the death of his father.

He is director of the Rank Foundation, has been chairman of governors at Giggleswick School since 1984, president of Lancashire Youth Club Association since 1986 and earlier this year he was appointed Hon Colonel of the Fourth Battalion of the Queen's Regiment.

He is past president of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society and a former vice-chairman of the North West regional committee of the National Trust.

Lord Shuttleworth married Mary Barclay in 1975 and has three sons. He has been a deputy lieutenant of Lancashire since 1986.

Sir Simon Towneley retires on December 14.

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