A FORMER Welsh Guardsman has been welcomed as the new chair at a veterans charity.
Richard Williams has taken over the role at the Royal Star and Garter.
He succeeds Major General (Retired) Tim Tyler, who reaches the end of his term of office in July, after a decade as Chair.
Richard’s appointment as Chair follows an extensive recruitment process.
He will focus on developing the charity’s strategy for the next decade with a focus on reaching more veterans and their families across the country.
Richard said: “This is a time of significant change at Royal Star and Garter and I am excited to bring to its Governing Body my experience in overseeing and managing the challenges, risks and opportunities that such change presents.
“Tim leaves the charity in great shape and as trustees we must continue to build on our strengths and challenge ourselves and the leadership team to be better and do more to reach the veteran community.
“As a veteran myself, I am thrilled to be involved in our charity’s important work to support the Armed Forces family and to look for ways to contribute more to it.”
Richard was commissioned into the Welsh Guards in 1986 and returned to the Army after university.
He went on to a number of training and command roles and served in many theatres throughout a varied operational career.
While serving under the United Nations in Cambodia in the early 1990s, Richard was involved in multiple operations to enable the emerging peace process.
As a team medic he helped save the lives of more than 100 civilians, combatants and UN personnel.
His role observing and reporting on the fighting brought him into regular contact with the notorious Khmer Rouge guerillas, at one stage being captured and held hostage by them. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry for his actions in Cambodia.
In 1997, following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, he led the bearer party of eight Welsh Guardsmen during her state funeral.
The Royal Star and Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia at care homes including one in Solihull which also has wider services reaching out into the community.
Andy Cole, chief executive at Royal Star and Garter, said: “It is our privilege to welcome Richard into the Royal Star and Garter family as our new chair.
“He joins us as we are expanding our reach following a recent merger, helping more veterans and their families than ever before.
“His experience, knowledge and support will help us continue to provide outstanding care to this country’s Armed Forces community.”
