General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL
Richard Dannatt was a soldier for forty years concluding his military career as Chief of the General Staff – the professional head of the British Army. Since retiring from active duty in 2009, he was Constable of the Tower of London until July 2016. In 2011 he became an independent member of the House of Lords and is a member of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy. He is a frequent commentator on defence and security issues in the media and columnist for The Daily Telegraph.
‘From 2006 to 2009 I was President of the Army Winter Sports Association and as such attended the annual Downhill and Biathlon Finals in Serre Chevalier in France and in Rupholding, Bavaria. As President, I was invited to open the Downhill course before the final races began, as a Vorlaufer. I was somewhat slower on the course than the racers!’
He is passionate about welfare issues relating to both serving and veteran members of the Armed Forces and the value of snowsports.