National Maritime Museum Trustees

8 December 2004

The Prime Minister has today appointed Alan Titchmarsh MBE VMH as a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum. The term of appointment will be for four years from 8 December 2004.

Biographical Notes

Alan Titchmarsh is a horticulturist, freelance broadcaster, novelist and writer. He has written more than 40 gardening books, five novels and appeared on radio and television, presenting such programmes as Songs of Praise, Titchmarsh's Travels and Ground Force. He has presented the BBC's annual coverage of The Chelsea Flower Show since 1983 and is currently presenting the BBC Television series British Isles: A Natural History.

Alan Titchmarsh is the Vice-President of Butterfly Conservation, the UK charity taking action to save butterflies, moths and their habitats. He has a passion for Britain's maritime heritage, is Patron of Cowes Inshore Lifeboat, Vice-Patron of the Jubilee Sailing Trust and owns a 38-ft yacht. He holds no other public appointments and has not carried out any political activity in the last five years.

Notes for the Editors

The National Maritime Museum's mission is to illustrate the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars, and their relationship with people. Its responsibilities are safeguarding and enhancing its assets which are the collections, expertise in the collections and subject area and the buildings. The Museum seeks to spread the benefits of those assets by maximising access and interpretation for users, satisfying stakeholders and through effective organisation and sound financial management. Trustees of the National Maritime Museum are not remunerated.

Appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.