Contributors
Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) senior counsel Robert Drewett has been appointed Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Somerset.
Robert has served as a Deputy Lieutenant since 2005. He succeeds Ted Allen as Vice Lord-Lieutenant, following Mr Allen's three-year tenure in the role and his retirement upon reaching the Lieutenancy's age limit of 75.
Robert, who has lived in Somerset for most of his life, joined WBD's Bristol office in 2014 and specialises in all aspects of the management and maximisation of rural land assets. He retired as a partner in 2021 but still acts as Senior Counsel on a part time basis.
Speaking about his appointment, Robert said:
“It is a great honour to be appointed as Vice Lord- Lieutenant and I very much look forward to working alongside the Lord- Lieutenant in helping further the work of the Lieutenancy in Somerset.
“Ted Allen has done a fantastic job during his time as Vice Lord-Lieutenant and set the bar high, but I will do my best to build on the high standards set by him.”
Robert has been involved with a variety of charities within the county. His most active involvement has been with the Royal Bath & West of England Society, where he started stewarding in 1978. He joined its Council in 1984, its board in 1995 and was Chair from 2013 until 2022 and invited to be President in 2024/25.
He is also a Trustee of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, Innovation for Agriculture and the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth, reflecting his interest in the challenges faced by agriculture and how agricultural societies can both help farmers to improve practices through good use of science and act as a bridge with consumers.
Robert is a Trustee of the Langford Trust for Animal Health and Welfare, Sight Research UK, the Grateful Society, St Monica Trust and Wells Cathedral Preservation Trust, and previously was a Trustee of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Trust and Chair of Folly Farm Limited, the trading company of Avon Wildlife Trust.
For numerous years, Robert served as a Church Warden and was appointed High Sheriff of Somerset for the 2023/24 term. Additionally, he continues his role as trustee of the High Sheriff of Somerset's Charitable Trust.
