A former chief executive of English Heritage, Dr Simon Thurley, has been appointed to head the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
His appointment as chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund was made by Downing Street on February 25.
Dr Thurley, who lives in King’s Lynn, will serve a three-year term from April 1.
Peter Sheppard, chairman of the Norfolk Churches Trust, said that the announcement was “fantastic news.”
Between 2002 and 2015 he was chief executive of English Heritage responsible for the National Heritage Collection of 420 sites including Stonehenge and Dover Castle, as well as for the National Heritage Protection system, including the listing of buildings.
For five years from 1997 he was director of the Museum of London, the world’s largest city museum.
As a historian, he has written 13 books including a history of English Architecture, Building England and the story of heritage protection, Men from the Ministry.
In 2011 he was made CBE for services to heritage. Married with two children, he lives in Norfolk.
Simon Thurley said: “It is a great privilege to be appointed as Chair at a critical time for the heritage sector.
“My career has been shaped by a strong belief in the power of the UKs heritage to positively contribute to people’s lives and the places where they live, work and visit. To have the opportunity to chair The National Lottery Heritage Fund which shares this vision is an honour.”
This role is remunerated at £40,000 per annum. He is also Provost of Gresham College, London’s oldest higher education establishment, founded in 1597 to give free public lectures in the City.
You can read more here.
Picture: Matthew Usher – Credit: Matthew Usher
