Two new Deputy Lieutenants have been appointed to serve on the Isle of Wight.
In this formal voluntary role, Richard Priest and Didi Nicholson will assist the Lord-Lieutenant in her work. The appointment is until retirement on their 75th birthday.
The Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Susie Sheldon, said,
“I am delighted to welcome both Richard Priest and Didi Nicholson to the Lieutenancy team where their in-depth knowledge of their particular sectors will be invaluable to the Lieutenancy role on the Isle of Wight.”
Richard Priest OBE
Richard was born in Lake, and met his wife Jane, when Lake Middle School was first opened in 1971. They live in Shanklin and have a son Adam, daughter-in-law Jennie, and grandchildren Benjamin and Isabelle.
From 1995 to 2015 Richard managed the Riverside Centre in Newport, as well as being chair of Medina Housing Association, a school governor, and he is actively involved locally and nationally with charities such as Community Action (IW) and ACRE.
Richard remains involved with town councils on the Island, as well as with Shanklin Voluntary Youth and Community Centre, and his interests include football and cricket, sports writing and making local history films.
The Hon. Mrs Nicholson
Didi ‘s family has long been linked to the Isle of Wight but Didi was born in Malta and has previously been a freelance travel writer.
She came back to the Island in 2014 after living abroad for many years. She is married to Edward and has three children, Alexander, Zoë and Henrietta.
Didi has a strong background in the charitable sector and is currently a trustee of both the Royal Yacht Squadron Foundation and the Island Careers Partnership. She is also a churchwarden of Mottistone Church and was, from 2015 to 2020, the chair of governors at Brighstone Primary School.
She enjoys singing, walking, travel, sailing and lives in Mottistone.
