Simon Brooks-Ward

Simon Brooks-Ward
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1987-present
Rank	Major General
Unit	Royal Yeomanry
Commands held	Royal Yeomanry
Battles/wars	Iraq War
Awards	Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire Territorial Decoration

Major General Simon Howe Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD VR is a British event organiser and Army Reserve officer who has served as Deputy Commander Field Army since 30 October 2015. Through his company, The HPower Group, he is most well known for organising large-scale equestrian events worldwide.^[1]

Military career

Brooks-Ward was commissioned into the Royal Yeomanry on 4 October 1987.^[2] He served in the Iraq War as the Commanding Officer of the Royal Yeomanry, the only Army Reserve unit to receive a battle honour during the conflict.^[3][4] In 2004 he was awarded the Territorial Decoration, and in 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Military) for services in Iraq and to defence.^[5] He was subsequently Colonel Yeomanry at Headquarters Royal Armoured Corps and Colonel TA Training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In January 2012 he was promoted to Brigadier and was appointed Assistant Divisional Commander of 3rd (United Kingdom) Division in Bulford.^[6] In October 2015 he was promoted to major-general and took over as Deputy Commander Field Army, the most senior position in the Army Reserve.^[7][8]

Event organiser

Brooks-Ward arranged his first major event at the age of 27, directing the Luciano Pavarotti horse show in Italy. He has subsequently become the director of the Olympia London International Horse Show and the Royal Windsor Horse Show, as well as numerous other major equestrian events.^[9]

In addition, Brooks-Ward has been involved in directing or producing the Royal Tournament, was the Equestrian Edvisor at the 2004 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, the 2008 TA100 National Pageant, the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo and the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Pageant.^[10] His involvement in many British state ceremonial occasions led to him being honoured as a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 2002.^[11] He was promoted to Commander in the same order in the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Honours in recognition of his services during the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.^[12]

He was involved in organising national celebrations for the Queen's 90th birthday in May 2016.^[13]

Personal life

He is the son of Raymond Brooks-Ward, a notable show jumping commentator. He is married to Annabel and has three children and two step-children.

References

1. Biography Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD from HorsePower International website.
2. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 51399. p. 7704. 5 July 1988. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
3. Biography Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD from HorsePower International website.
4. Lusher, Adam (20 April 2008). "Welcoming the troops at the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
5. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 57665. p. 5. 11 June 2005. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
6. Biography Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD from HorsePower International website.
7. The Daily Telegraph (London), 2015, Senior army appointment, SECTION: FEATURES; Pg. 32, The Daily Telegraph (London), August 24 2015.
8. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 61398. p. 21527. 2 November 2015.
9. Biography Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD from HorsePower International website.
10. Lusher, Adam (20 April 2008). "Welcoming the troops at the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
11. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56654. p. 2. 6 August 2002. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
12. Biography Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD from HorsePower International website.
13. Rayner, Gordon (20 April 2008). "BBC misses out on showing Queen's 90th birthday celebrations after Jubilee criticism". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 15 May 2015.