Deputy Lieutenants of Somerset

Background:

Nigel Beacom is a retired military officer who dedicated 36 years of service to the Territorial Army, now known as the Army Reserve.

Education and experience:

Throughout his career, Nigel held various leadership positions, including serving as the Commanding Officer of 40th Signal Regiment, Deputy Commander 2 Signal Brigade, and Assistant Commander of Theatre Troops as a Brigadier. He also gained valuable experience working in the Army HQ and MOD main building in different capacities.

In recognition of his contributions to the Reserves, Nigel became the first army recipient of the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves’ Medal (formerly known as the QVRM, now KVRM) in November 1999. He also had the honour of serving as an ADC (Aide-de-Camp) to the Queen from 2009 until his retirement in 2012.

In his civilian life, Nigel established and successfully ran a Market Research company with six offices across the UK. He later sold this business in 2012 and went on to set up another Market Research company in 2015, which now has offices in Bristol, Belfast, and Cardiff.

From 2016 to 2019, Nigel served as a member of the Independent Residents’ Panel of Avon and Somerset Police and is currently the Chair of the Wessex Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (RFCA) for Somerset.

Further information:

Nigel has been living in a village in Somerset since 1999 with his wife, Isobel, and their family dog. They have two adult sons, one residing and working in Bath, while the other is based in Bristol.

Background:

Edward Bayntun-Coward was born at Dunkerton, near Bath, in 1966, and was educated at Monkton Combe Junior School, Marlborough College and University College, Oxford, where he read Modern History. From 1988 to 1994 he worked for Maggs Bros. Ltd in London. He then became a partner in George Bayntun, the antiquarian bookdealers and bookbinders established by his great-grandfather in Bath in 1894. He has been sole owner since 2000.

Education and experience:

He was a Trustee of the Holburne Museum from 2006 until 2011, and returned as Chair in 2017, a post he still holds. He is also Chair of the Keats Shelley Memorial Association, Deputy Chair of the American Museum and Gardens, a Trustee of the Paper Foundation and a Lay Chapter member of Wells Cathedral.

Further information:

He served as High Sheriff of Somerset from March 2016 to March 2017 and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in 2017. He is married to Laura with three grown children, Lily, Joshua and Beatrice, and lives at Midford, near Bath.

Background:

Born in Uganda, young Jenn (Jennifer) arrived in the UK with her family fleeing political unrest in her birth country. Jenn was brought up in west London where she was also educated. She moved to Somerset in 2016 where she lives with her 8-year-old daughter.

Education and experience:

With a keen interest in how human society is structured and functions, particularly the role Education plays in social mobility. Jennifer studied Sociology and Education at the University of Surrey, Roehampton. She graduated with an MSc Upper 2nd Degree.

After graduating, lured by the dazzling lights of corporate life, Jenn landed a role at IBM. She worked in various roles in Operations, Consulting, and Finance, finally settling in Sales after graduating from IBM Global Sales School. Jenn enjoyed 10 successful years at IBM before joining Microsoft in 2010 to Lead its Digital Transformation efforts in Local and Regional Government.

In 2015, Jenn took on an ambitious and exciting project to help leaders of Local Authorities tackle organisational challenges brought on by increasing demands on public services; here Jenn was introduced to Somerset Council and the people of Somerset. Leaning on her degree qualification and over 10 years industry experience, Jenn saw the opportunity for Microsoft to play a significant role in improving the social and economic outcomes of the region.

Working with Council Leaders, Microsoft colleagues and Partners, Jenn created a ground-breaking Digital Skills and Training initiative for the region with an aim to improve the future employability of Children Looked After, Care Levers, the unemployed, ex-Military personnel, and those in employment looking to re skill. The success of the programme saw Jenn awarded the prestigious Microsoft Founders Award for outstanding achievement in 2018, recognising her significant impact and contribution inside and outside Microsoft.

Further information:

Jenn, a former Barnardo’s Non-Executive Director is passionate about improving the life chances of children and young people in Somerset. Today, she is a respected senior Leader at Microsoft, currently leading Microsoft’s relationship with Government.