Sir Paul Douglas Nicholson, KCVO , KStJ (born 7 March 1938) is an English industrialist and was Lord Lieutenant of County Durham from 1997 to 2013.
Nicholson was born in County Durham and educated at Ludgrove School, Harrow School and Clare College, Cambridge. [1] Between Harrow and Cambridge, he was commissioned during National Service in The Coldstream Guards. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, he joined Vaux Breweries in 1965 and, from 1976 until 1999, he was Chairman of the Vaux Group, one of the most successful companies in the North East of England.
He was Chairman of the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation throughout its existence (1987-1998) and also served as Chairman of the Northern Region of CBI (1977–1979), Chairman of the Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association, formerly the Brewers Society (1994–1996), and in 1995 he became the inaugural President of the Northeast Chamber of Commerce. He was Knighted in 1993 for 'Services to Industry and the Public in Northeast England'. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 2011
In his youth he was a prominent amateur rider twice winning the Liverpool Foxhunters steeplechase in 1963 and 1965. Later he was President of the Coaching Club (1990–1997). [2]
In 1980 he was appointed High Sheriff of Durham [3] and Lord Lieutenant in 1997. He has published an autobiography entitled "Brewer at Bay published by The Memoir Club".
Nicholson is married to Sarah Bacon, daughter of Sir Edmund Bacon, 13th and 14th Baronet, the premier baronet in the United Kingdom. They have one daughter, Lucy (b. 1972).
Already a Knight Bachelor, Nicholson was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2011 Birthday Honours. [4] [5]
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
 | Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) |
|
 | Knight Bachelor (Kt) |
|
 | Order of St. John (K.stJ) |
|
 | Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal |
|
 | Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal |
|
 | Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
|
 | Service Medal of the Order of St John | |
Robin Berry Janvrin, Baron Janvrin, is a British naval officer, diplomat, and courtier who was private secretary to Elizabeth II from February 1999 to September 2007.
Sir Hugo Laurence Joseph Brunner was Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, England, between 1996 and 2008. He was succeeded by Tim Stevenson. He was also a Liberal Party politician.
Sir John Charles Buchanan Riddell, 13th Baronet, KCVO KStJ DL FRSA was Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales from 1985 to 1990. He was Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland from 2000 to 2009.
Sir Thomas Woodcock FRHSC is a genealogist who served as Garter Principal King of Arms at the College of Arms from 2010 to 2021.
Sir Laurence Howard was the Lord Lieutenant of Rutland. He was appointed in 2003 in succession to Air Chief Marshal Sir Thomas Kennedy, having served as a deputy lieutenant since 1997. He is a former chairman of the Central Council of Magistrates' Courts Committees, serving on the bench in Leicestershire for 25 years. He was also the honorary air commodore of 504 County of Nottingham Squadron for ten years, ending in 2018.
Sir Eric Dancer is a British businessman and formerly Lord-Lieutenant of Devon.
Arthur Annesley, 11th Viscount Valentia, was a British soldier, courtier and Conservative Party politician. He notably served as Comptroller of the Household between 1898 and 1905.
Ralph Assheton, 1st Baron Clitheroe,, was an English aristocrat and politician.
Sir Nicholas Hickman Ponsonby Bacon, 14th and 15th Baronet, is a British landowner, businessman and philanthropist. Sir Nicholas is also the Premier Baronet of England.
Sir Michael William Bunbury, 13th Baronet is a British businessman and landowner.
Charles Geoffrey Nicholas Kay-Shuttleworth, 5th Baron Shuttleworth,, is a British hereditary peer. He is the son of Charles Ughtred Kay-Shuttleworth, 4th Baron Shuttleworth, and his wife, Anne Elizabeth Phillips.
Sir David William Brewer, was a British marine insurance broker who served as Lord Mayor of London (2005–2006) and Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London to Elizabeth II (2008–2015).
Sir James Brown Dougherty, was an Irish clergyman, academic, civil servant and politician.
Vice Admiral Sir Charles Anthony Johnstone-Burt, is a retired Royal Navy officer who is currently serving as the Master of the Household. In this role, he took part in the 2023 Coronation.
Sir Timothy Edwin Paul Stevenson was Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, England between 2008 and 2021. A qualified barrister, he is also a businessman and former Chairman of Johnson Matthey plc.
Sir Reginald Ward Edward Lane Poole, KCVO was a prominent British solicitor who became President of the Law Society and, according to The Times, "to the public at large perhaps the best known solicitor of his day".
Sir Archibald Hugh Duberly, is a British farmer, campaigner and politician.
Sir Donal Arthur John Keegan, KCVO, OBE is a Northern Irish physician and public servant.
Sir Andrew George Buchanan, 5th Baronet, KCVO, DL is a British farmer and public servant.
Sir Samuel Charles Whitbread was a British businessman and public servant.
  | This biographical article related to the British Army is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |