We’re honoured to welcome General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, KCB CBE as our Patron.History student, long-time Golden Valley resident and Chief of the General Staff  (aka Head of the Army) up to June 2022, Mark was the first SAS Commanding Officer to occupy the role and the youngest in over a century. Still a keen student of history, Mark is married with two grown up children and lives in a 14th Century fortified farmhouse less than two hours’ yomp from Snodhill.

Mark says: “I’m delighted to support the trust in its work to rescue and redeem this hidden gem of the Golden Valley…and to support your efforts to make its increasingly fascinating past come alive in our local, county and national story”