Editing David Leakey

{{Short description|British Army general, parliamentary official}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]]
|name         = David Leakey
|honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CMG|CVO|CBE}}
|image        = Lt Gen David Leakey.jpg
|imagesize    =
|alt          =
|caption      =
|office       = [[Black Rod|Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod]]
|term_start   = 1 February 2011
|term_end     = 13 February 2018 
|monarch      = [[Elizabeth II]]
|predecessor  = [[Freddie Viggers|Sir Freddie Viggers]]
|successor    = [[Sarah Clarke (Black Rod)|Sarah Clarke]]
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1952|05|18|df=y}}
|birth_place  = [[United Kingdom]]
|death_date   =
|death_place  =
|restingplace =
|birthname    = Arundell David Leakey
|nationality  = British
|party        =
|otherparty   =
|spouse       =
|relatives    = [[Nigel Leakey]] (uncle)
|father       = [[Rea Leakey]]
|children     =
|residence    =
|alma_mater   = [[Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge]]<br/>[[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]]
|occupation   =
|profession   =
|cabinet      =
|committees   =
|portfolio    =
|religion     =
|website      =
|footnotes    =
|branch= [[British Army]]
|serviceyears= 1971–2010
|rank= [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]]
|unit= [[Royal Tank Regiment]]
|commands= [[European Union Military Staff]]<br/>[[20th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|20th Armoured Brigade]]<br/>[[2nd Royal Tank Regiment]]
|battles= [[Operation Banner]]<br/>[[EUFOR Althea]] (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
|mawards= [[Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=57936 |date= 24 March 2006 |page=4194 |supp=y }}</ref><br/>[[Commander of the Royal Victorian Order]]<br>[[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]<ref name="LG 4 December 1997"/><br/>[[Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service]]
}}
[[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] '''Arundell David Leakey''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=,|CMG|CVO|CBE}} (born 18 May 1952)<ref name=Birth>{{cite news|title=Birthday's today|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2011-5-18.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110519203254/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2011-5-18.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 19 May 2011 |newspaper=The Telegraph|accessdate=16 May 2014|date=18 May 2011|quote=Lt Gen David Leakey, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, 59 }}</ref> is a former [[British Army]] officer. He was [[Director General of the European Union Military Staff]] in the [[Council of the European Union]], [[Brussels]]. In 2010 he was appointed [[Black Rod|Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod]], a role he held until February 2018.<ref>{{cite news|title=New appointment as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod |url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2010/NewappointmentasGentlemanUsheroftheBlackRod.aspx |newspaper=royal.gov.uk |accessdate=21 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509025223/http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2010/NewappointmentasGentlemanUsheroftheBlackRod.aspx |archivedate=9 May 2013 }}</ref>

==Early life and family==
{{main|Leakey family}}
Leakey is the son of Major General [[Rea Leakey]] and nephew of [[Victoria Cross]] recipient [[Nigel Leakey]]. Leakey was educated at [[Sherborne School]].<ref name="EU bio" /> He is also related to the Victoria Cross recipient [[Joshua Leakey]].<ref name="Daily Telegraph - Heroism runs in the family for VC Para">{{cite news|last1=Farmer|first1=Ben|title=Heroism runs in the family for VC Para|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11435776/Heroism-runs-in-the-family-for-VC-Para.html|accessdate=26 February 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=26 February 2015|archive-date=26 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226030049/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11435776/Heroism-runs-in-the-family-for-VC-Para.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Military career==
After attending the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]], Leakey was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] into the [[Royal Tank Regiment]] as a [[Second lieutenant#United Kingdom and Commonwealth|second lieutenant]] (on probation) on 27 February 1971. His [[service number]] was 491002.<ref name="LG 30 March 1971">{{London Gazette |issue=45331 |date=30 March 1971 |page=2938 |supp=y }}</ref> From 4 September 1971<ref name="LG 11 October 1971">{{London Gazette |issue=45493 |date=11 October 1971 |page=10969 |supp=y }}</ref> to 1 July 1974 he was a [[Officers' Training Corps|university cadet]]<ref name="LG 18 November 1974">{{London Gazette |issue=46403 |date=18 November 1974 |page=11370 |supp=y }}</ref> while he read law at [[Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge|Fitzwilliam College]], [[University of Cambridge]].<ref name="EU bio">{{cite web|title=LIEUTENANT GENERAL A D LEAKEY CMG CBE|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/sede/dv/sede170310cvleakey_/sede170310cvleakey_en.pdf|publisher=European Parliament|accessdate=26 July 2012|archive-date=19 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219022058/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/sede/dv/sede170310cvleakey_/sede170310cvleakey_en.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/about/newsitem-3-54 |title=Fitzwilliam College Alumni News |year=2011 |publisher=Fitzwilliam College |accessdate=1 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514131426/http://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/about/newsitem-3-54 |archivedate=14 May 2011}}</ref> His commission was confirmed on 1 July 1974 with seniority from 1 February 1971.<ref name="LG 18 February 1975">{{London Gazette |issue=46495 |date=18 February 1975 |page=2223 |supp=y }}</ref> He was promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] on 1 July 1974 with seniority from 1 February 1973,<ref name="LG 18 February 1975" /> and to [[captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 1 August 1977.<ref name="LG 1 August 1977">{{London Gazette |issue=47289 |date=1 August 1977 |page=9974 |supp=y }}</ref> He served in the UK, [[Northern Ireland]], [[Germany]], [[Bosnia]] and in [[Canada]] in armoured vehicles and in tanks ([[Chieftain tank|Chieftain]] and [[Challenger 1|Challenger]]).<ref name="EU bio" />

Having attended the [[Staff College, Camberley]], Leakey was promoted to [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]] on 30 September 1984.<ref name="LG 15 October 1984">{{London Gazette |issue=49897 |date=15 October 1984 |page=13947 |supp=y }}</ref> He was appointed [[Chief of Staff]] at [[7th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Brigade]] (Germany), [[Military Assistant]] to the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] and then [[Commanding Officer]] of the [[2nd Royal Tank Regiment]].<ref name="EU bio" />

Leakey was promoted to [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|colonel]] on 31 December 1993 with seniority from 30 June 1993.<ref name="LG 31 December 1993">{{London Gazette |issue=53537 |date=31 December 1993 |page=20680 |supp=y }}</ref> He was then posted to the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] as a [[Operations (military staff)|Colonel Military Operations]]. In that role, he was responsible for [[Military operation|Operational]] planning and policy affecting [[Eastern Europe|Eastern]] and [[Western Europe]]. In early 1995, he attended the [[Higher Command and Staff Course]]. In late 1995, he was the UK's Military Representative at the peace negotiations to end the [[Bosnian War]] held in the United States. The successful negotiations resulted in the signing of the [[Dayton Agreement]] and an end to the three-and-a-half-year-long war.<ref name="EU bio" />

Leakey was promoted to [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|brigadier]] on 31 December 1995 with seniority from 30 June 1995.<ref name="LG 29 December 1995">{{London Gazette |issue=54265 |date=29 December 1995 |page=61 |supp=y }}</ref> He was appointed Commander of [[20th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|20th Armoured Brigade]] in Germany in 1996.<ref name="EU bio" /> With his brigade, he was [[tour of duty|posted]] to the [[former Yugoslavia]] from 21 December 1996 to 20 June 1997.<ref name="LG 4 December 1997" /> He returned to the Ministry of Defence as Director of Military Operations from July 1997 to December 1999.<ref name="Army Commands 1900-2011">{{cite web|title=Army Commands 1900–2011 – Senior Army Appointments |url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf |accessdate=28 July 2012 |author=Colin Mackie |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705211343/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf |archivedate=5 July 2015}}</ref>

In 2000, Leakey attended the [[Royal College of Defence Studies]]. He was Chief of Staff at [[HQ Northern Ireland|Headquarters Northern Ireland]]<ref name="EU bio" /> from February to December 2001.<ref name="Army Commands 1900-2011" /> He was promoted to [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|major general]] on 15 December 2001.<ref name="LG 18 December 2001">{{London Gazette |issue=56419 |date=18 December 2001 |page=14897 |supp=y }}</ref> From December 2001 to October 2004, he was [[Director General]] of Army Training and Recruiting.<ref name="Army Commands 1900-2011" /> On 6 October 2004, he was appointed Commander of [[European Union Force]] [[EUFOR Althea|Althea]],<ref name="LG 2 November 2004">{{London Gazette |issue=57453 |date=2 November 2004 |page=13817 |supp=y }}</ref> the [[European Union]] peacekeeping force, which replaced the [[NATO]]-led [[SFOR]] in [[Bosnia and Hercegovina|Bosnia and Herzegovina]].<ref name="EU bio" /> He was promoted to [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|lieutenant general]] on 28 February 2007.<ref name="LG 6 March 2007">{{London Gazette |issue=58264 |date=6 March 2007 |page=3233 |supp=y }}</ref> From 1 March 2007<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Briefing for Handover Ceremony|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/esdp/92929.pdf|publisher=COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION|accessdate=26 July 2012|date=23 February 2007|archive-date=24 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424031537/http://consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/esdp/92929.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> until 2010, he was Director General of the [[European Union Military Staff]] in [[Brussels]].<ref name="EU bio" />

Leakey retired from the military on 22 September 2010.<ref name="LG 28 September 2010">{{London Gazette |issue=59559 |date=28 September 2010 |page=18725 |supp=y }}</ref>

==Later life==
Leakey was appointed as [[Black Rod|Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod]] in the [[House of Lords]] from February 2011<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/january/black-rod-starts/ |title=New Black Rod starts |website=Parliament |date=2 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130000327/https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/january/black-rod-starts/ |archive-date=30 January 2019}}</ref> to December 2017. In early 2020 Leakey argued strongly against former [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] [[John Bercow]] being appointed to the [[House of Lords]], accusing him of bullying and explosive behaviour.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Procter |first1=Kate |title=Giving Bercow Peerage would be scandal, says former Black Rod |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/05/john-bercow-peerage-scandal-black-rod-david-leakey |accessdate=8 March 2020 |work=The Guardian |archive-date=11 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311203912/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/05/john-bercow-peerage-scandal-black-rod-david-leakey |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Shadow Home Secretary]] and [[Member of Parliament]] [[Diane Abbott]] has defended Bercow, stating that as a military man, Leakey was "unlikely to have been bullied by Bercow".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Giordano |first1=Chiara |title=Diane Abbott criticised after suggesting former military commander could not have been Bercow bullying victim |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/diane-abbott-bullying-john-bercow-david-leakey-military-twitter-a9318431.html |accessdate=8 March 2020 |work=The Independent |issue=5 Feb 2020 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128060059/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/diane-abbott-bullying-john-bercow-david-leakey-military-twitter-a9318431.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since retiring as Black Rod, Leakey has undertaken public speaking engagements including media appearances on radio and TV. He mentors senior executives and holds appointments in a number of business enterprises: Chief Strategy Officer of Scopeworker (a business management software service), Advisory Member of 2M Holdings Board (Chemicals and Gas Industry), a number of consultancy roles, and ambassador for the Hollie Gazzard Trust.

==Personal life==
Leakey was chairman of the [[National Children's Orchestra]], but he resigned in June 2014. He has also been a member of the [[Parliament Choir]].

He was appointed a Governor of Sherborne School and Sherborne School Group in 2018 and chairman in July 2020. He is also a trustee of numerous other Charitable and not for profit organisations.

He is an amateur piano player and singer. He is married with two sons. He enjoys classical music, playing squash, tennis, golf, most field sports, and chain sawing.<ref name="EU bio" />

{{Leakey family tree}}

==Honours and awards==
Leakey was [[Colonel Commandant]] of the [[Royal Tank Regiment]] from 21 August 2006<ref name="LG 3 October 2006">{{London Gazette |issue=58113 |date=3 October 2006 |page=13441 |supp=y }}</ref> to 30 July 2010<ref name="LG 31 August 2010">{{London Gazette |issue=59531 |date=31 August 2010 |page=16755 |supp=y }}</ref> and previously Deputy Colonel Commandant since 16 July 1999.<ref name="LG 5 October 1999">{{London Gazette |issue=55627 |date=5 October 1999 |page=10613 |supp=y }}</ref> He was Honorary Colonel of the [[Dorset Yeomanry]] Squadron of the [[Royal Wessex Yeomanry]] until September 2024,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=64546 |date=22 October 2024 |supp=y |page=20854}}</ref> and Dorset Army Cadet Force as well as Colonel of Cadet Force Music.

{{center|
[[File:Ord.St.Michele-Giorgio.png|100px]]

[[File:Royal Victorian Order UK ribbon.png|100px]]
[[File:Order of the British Empire (Military) Ribbon.png|100px]]
[[File:UNFICYP.gif|100px]]
[[File:NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg|100px]]

[[File:General Service Medal with QCVS device.svg|100px]]
[[File:ESDP Medal ALTHEA ribbon bar.png|100px]]
[[File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100px]]
[[File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|100px]]
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Ord.St.Michele-Giorgio.png|50px]] || [[Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George]] (CMG) || 24 March 2006, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the former Yugoslavia during the period 1st April to 30th September 2005".<ref name="LG 24 March 2006">{{London Gazette |issue=57936 |date=24 March 2006 |page=4194 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:Royal Victorian Order UK ribbon.png|50px]] || [[Commander of the Royal Victorian Order]] (CVO) || [[2018 New Year Honours]]
|-
|[[File:Order of the British Empire (Military) Ribbon.png|50px]] || [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) || 5 December 1997, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in former Yugoslavia during the period 21st December 1996 to 20th June 1997".<ref name="LG 4 December 1997">{{London Gazette |issue=54969 |date=4 December 1997 |page=13691 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:UNFICYP.gif|50px]] || [[United Nations Medal|United Nations Medal for UNFICYP]] || [[United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus]]
|-
|[[File:NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg|50px]] || [[NATO Medal|NATO Former Republic of Yugoslavia Medal]] || With clasp ' ''Former Yugoslavia'' '
|-
|[[File:General Service Medal with QCVS device.svg|50px]] || [[General Service Medal (1962)|General Service Medal]] || With oak leaves for [[Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service]] awarded on 19 April 2002, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Northern Ireland during period 1st April 2001 to 30th September 2001".<ref name="LG 19 April 2002">{{London Gazette |issue=56541 |date=19 April 2002 |page=4810 |supp=y }}</ref>
|-
|[[File:ESDP Medal ALTHEA ribbon bar.png|50px]] || [[Western European Union Mission Service Medal]] || With "[[Operation Althea|ALTHEA]]" [[Medal bar|Clasp]]
|-
|[[File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|50px]] || [[Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal]] || 2002
|-
|[[File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|50px]] || [[Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal]] || 2012
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/4314567.stm David Leakey speaks to BBC Hardtalk on his mission in Bosnia and Hercegovina]

{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef |before=[[Freddie Viggers|Sir Freddie Viggers]]}}
{{s-ttl |title=[[Black Rod]] |years=2011–2018 }}
{{s-aft |after=[[Sarah Clarke (Black Rod)|Sarah Clarke]]}}
{{s-mil}}
{{Succession box|before=[[Jean-Paul Perruche]] |title=[[Director General of the European Union Military Staff]] |years=2007–2010|after=[[Ton van Osch]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leakey, David}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:British military personnel of The Troubles (Northern Ireland)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
[[Category:British Army lieutenant generals]]
[[Category:British officials of the European Union]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Directors General of the European Union Military Staff]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley]]
[[Category:Leakey family|David]]
[[Category:People educated at Sherborne School]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Commendation for Valuable Service]]
[[Category:Royal Tank Regiment officers]]
[[Category:Ushers of the Black Rod]]
[[Category:21st-century British Army personnel]]