David Leakey

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Early life and familyEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} 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">Template:Cite news</ref>

Military careerEdit

After attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Leakey was commissioned into the Royal Tank Regiment as a second lieutenant (on probation) on 27 February 1971. His service number was 491002.<ref name="LG 30 March 1971">Template:London Gazette</ref> From 4 September 1971<ref name="LG 11 October 1971">Template:London Gazette</ref> to 1 July 1974 he was a university cadet<ref name="LG 18 November 1974">Template:London Gazette</ref> while he read law at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge.<ref name="EU bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His commission was confirmed on 1 July 1974 with seniority from 1 February 1971.<ref name="LG 18 February 1975">Template:London Gazette</ref> He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 July 1974 with seniority from 1 February 1973,<ref name="LG 18 February 1975" /> and to captain on 1 August 1977.<ref name="LG 1 August 1977">Template:London Gazette</ref> He served in the UK, Northern Ireland, Germany, Bosnia and in Canada in armoured vehicles and in tanks (Chieftain and Challenger).<ref name="EU bio" />

Having attended the Staff College, Camberley, Leakey was promoted to major on 30 September 1984.<ref name="LG 15 October 1984">Template:London Gazette</ref> He was appointed Chief of Staff at 7th Armoured Brigade (Germany), Military Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff and then Commanding Officer of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.<ref name="EU bio" />

Leakey was promoted to colonel on 31 December 1993 with seniority from 30 June 1993.<ref name="LG 31 December 1993">Template:London Gazette</ref> He was then posted to the Ministry of Defence as a Colonel Military Operations. In that role, he was responsible for Operational planning and policy affecting 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 on 31 December 1995 with seniority from 30 June 1995.<ref name="LG 29 December 1995">Template:London Gazette</ref> He was appointed Commander of 20th Armoured Brigade in Germany in 1996.<ref name="EU bio" /> With his brigade, he was 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">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2000, Leakey attended the Royal College of Defence Studies. He was Chief of Staff at Headquarters Northern Ireland<ref name="EU bio" /> from February to December 2001.<ref name="Army Commands 1900-2011" /> He was promoted to major general on 15 December 2001.<ref name="LG 18 December 2001">Template:London Gazette</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 Althea,<ref name="LG 2 November 2004">Template:London Gazette</ref> the European Union peacekeeping force, which replaced the NATO-led SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina.<ref name="EU bio" /> He was promoted to lieutenant general on 28 February 2007.<ref name="LG 6 March 2007">Template:London Gazette</ref> From 1 March 2007<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</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">Template:London Gazette</ref>

Later lifeEdit

Leakey was appointed as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the House of Lords from February 2011<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> to December 2017. In early 2020 Leakey argued strongly against former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow being appointed to the House of Lords, accusing him of bullying and explosive behaviour.<ref>Template:Cite news</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>Template:Cite news</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 lifeEdit

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" />

Template:Leakey family tree

Honours and awardsEdit

Leakey was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Tank Regiment from 21 August 2006<ref name="LG 3 October 2006">Template:London Gazette</ref> to 30 July 2010<ref name="LG 31 August 2010">Template:London Gazette</ref> and previously Deputy Colonel Commandant since 16 July 1999.<ref name="LG 5 October 1999">Template:London Gazette</ref> He was Honorary Colonel of the Dorset Yeomanry Squadron of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry until September 2024,<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> and Dorset Army Cadet Force as well as Colonel of Cadet Force Music.

File:Ord.St.Michele-Giorgio.png

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

File:General Service Medal with QCVS device.svg File:ESDP Medal ALTHEA ribbon bar.png File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg

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File:Ord.St.Michele-Giorgio.png	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">Template:London Gazette</ref>
File:Royal Victorian Order UK ribbon.png	Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)	2018 New Year Honours
File:Order of the British Empire (Military) Ribbon.png	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">Template:London Gazette</ref>
File:UNFICYP.gif	United Nations Medal for UNFICYP	United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus
File:NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg	NATO Former Republic of Yugoslavia Medal	With clasp ' Former Yugoslavia '
File:General Service Medal with QCVS device.svg	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">Template:London Gazette</ref>
File:ESDP Medal ALTHEA ribbon bar.png	Western European Union Mission Service Medal	With "ALTHEA" Clasp
File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal	2002
File:QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal	2012

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

David Leakey speaks to BBC Hardtalk on his mission in Bosnia and Hercegovina

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