The Earl of Wessex will take over after CCPR’s Annual General Meeting in July 2009. Becoming President will add to His Royal Highness’s involvement in sport and recreation in the UK and will complement his patronage of a number of CCPR’s member organisations.
Brigid Simmonds OBE, CCPR Chair, believes that The Earl of Wessex is a natural successor to The Duke of Edinburgh.
“The Earl of Wessex has shown himself to be a real supporter of sport and young people. He has interests in the work of many of CCPR’s members already, being Royal Patron of the British Paralympic Association, Snowsport GB and the Tennis and Rackets Association, as well as being Patron of BadmintonScotland and Vice Patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation. He is a sports enthusiast through and through.
“There is a real synergy between His Royal Highness’s personal commitment and the work of CCPR and we are really pleased that he has agreed to become our new President. He has expressed a wish to engage with the work of our members, particularly at the grassroots, and in his new role he can do just that.
“We wanted someone who understands sport, enjoys sport and is committed to the work of our members. The Earl of Wessex will, I am sure, be able to help us move forward and represent CCPR’s cause in the run-up to London 2012.”
