Loyd Grossman appointed as Chair of The Royal Parks

Culture Secretary, John Whittingdale, has appointed Loyd Grossman CBE as the Chairman of The Royal Parks for a term of four years from 4th July 2016.

Loyd Grossman was born in Boston in 1950 and graduated from Boston University (BA cum laude), the London School of Economics (MSc Econ) and Magdalene College, Cambridge (PhD, MPhil).

After starting a career in journalism with Harpers & Queen and the Sunday Times he was diverted into television where as a writer, presenter or deviser he was involved in a wide range of programmes including Through the Keyhole, MasterChef, Behind the Headlines, History of British Sculpture, Loyd on Location and Build Britain, He also wrote and presented a series, Composers at Home, for Radio 3.

Loyd’s knowledge of and fascination with food led him to create his own brand in 1995, which became Britain’s most successful new premium food brand.

His lifelong interest in history, the arts and heritage has involved him in a number of organisations. He is a former Commissioner of the Museums and Galleries Commission, a former Commissioner of English Heritage (where he was Chairman of the Museums Advisory Committee and the Blue Plaques Panel), a former Commissioner of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, a founding member of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, past Chairman of National Museums Liverpool and of the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association, and past President of the British Association of Friends of Museums. He founded the 24 Hour Museum (now Culture 24) and was its Chairman until 2005.

Loyd is President of NADFAS, Deputy Chair of The Royal Drawing School, and a Fellow of Gladstone’s Library. He was Chairman of the University for the Creative Arts from 2008-2012, a member of the Court of Governors of the LSE from 1996-2009, and is now an Emeritus Governor of the LSE. He is a Member of the Council of the British School at Rome, a member of the board of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions and a Governor of the Building Crafts College. Loyd is Patron of the Association for Heritage Interpretation and Patron of Heritage Open Days.

Loyd was Chairman of The Churches Conservation Trust from 2007 to 2016 and in 2009 he was appointed Chairman of The Heritage Alliance which represents over 100 non-governmental and voluntary organisations working in the heritage sector.

He is Upper Warden of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars, an Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Loyd was appointed OBE in 2003 and was awarded a Doctor of Letters degree in 2007 by the University of Chester in recognition of his heritage work. In January 2011 the University of Lincoln awarded him an honorary Doctor of Arts degree in recognition of his contribution to the cultural heritage sector and in October 2014 the University of Essex awarded Loyd an honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his contribution to tourism and hospitality. In June 2015 he was appointed CBE in recognition of his services to Heritage.