Sir David William Brewer KG, CMG, CVO, JP (28 May 1940 – 28 May 2023), was a British marine insurance broker who served as Lord Mayor of London (2005/06)[1] and Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London to Elizabeth II (2008–15).[2]

Early life

Born in 1940,[3] Brewer grew up in Hampstead and was educated at Winchester College and St Paul's School, London.[1][4] He later studied at the University of Grenoble in France.[5]

Career

Business

Brewer began his 50-year career with marine insurance company Sedgwick Collins in 1959.[5] In 1976 he went to Tokyo to open the Sedgwick Group's Japan office and lived there for three years. He set up its group office in China in 1981, obtaining the first broker's authorisation in 1993. He also opened the company's representative office in Bombay in 1986. He was Non-Executive Vice-Chairman of Marsh Ltd., the company which bought Sedgwick, from 2007 to 2009 and a director or consultant for various insurance companies. He was Chairman of the China-Britain Business Council until 2013 and held non-executive directorships of LIFFE Administration and Management (2009–2023), Tullett Prebon SITICO (China) (2006–2023) and the National Bank of Kuwait (International) (2007–2023).

Public service

Brewer was appointed a magistrate (JP) in 1979.[1] Prior to serving as Alderman for the Ward of Bassishaw 1996–2010, he was a Common Councilman in the City of London; and was Aldermanic Sheriff of the City for 2002/3.[6] His term of office as 678th Lord Mayor of London was 2005/06,[1] and from 2008 to 2015 he served as HM's Representative for Greater London as Lord Lieutenant.[1]

Public life

Brewer was a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors and of the Blacksmiths' Company, as well as being a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Insurers; President of the London-Cornish Association since 2005, Sir David was also Chairman of the Central Council of the Royal Over-Seas League from 2017 until his death.[7]

Personal life

In 1985, Brewer married Tessa Jordá,[8] daughter of Enrique Jordá; they had two daughters (Olivia and Gabriella).[1] A former President of the Chartered Institute of Linguists, Lady Brewer was appointed OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for her work as Chairwoman of the City of London Festival.[9]

A member of Marylebone Cricket Club, Sir David listed his recreations as music, golf and chocolate,[10] as well as paronomasia (punning)![5]

Sir David and Lady Brewer divided their time between homes at Hellandbridge, near Bodmin, Cornwall and in London.

Brewer died on 28 May 2023, his 83rd birthday.[11]

Honours

Brewer was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1999 Birthday Honours for "services to Export"[12] and a Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ) in 2005. He was knighted in the 2007 New Year Honours for "services to the City of London"[13] and awarded the same year the Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun.[14] In the 2015 New Year Honours he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his "services as Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London"[15] and then, on 23 April 2016, a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter (KG).[16]

Sir David received honorary doctorates from a number of universities, i.e. in 2008 from respectively the City University London (Hon. LLD), SOAS University of London (Hon. DSc)[5] and the University of Exeter (Hon. LLD),[17] and in 2013 from the University of Nottingham (Hon. LLD).[18]

Arms of Sir David Brewer KG: Gules, three Heads of Dragon Argent, horned Or, between two Flaunches with rays Or, within the Garter circlet.
Crest: A Bactrian Camel couchant Or.
Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter (KG) 2016
Knight Bachelor 2007[19]
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) 1999
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) 2015
Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ) 2005
Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) 2007[14]

Styles

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f London Lieutenancy: Sir David Brewer profile Archived 7 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Crown Office". The London Gazette. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Birthday's today". The Telegraph. 28 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2014. Sir David Brewer, Lord–Lieutenant for Greater London, 73
  4. ^ "Obituaries" Trusty Servant. Winchester College. Nov 2023. p. 36. Retrieved 12 Dec 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d SOAS: Presentation speech on conferring honorary degree (2008) Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Sir David Brewer". Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  7. ^ "Royal Overseas League of Australia - Annual Report". www.rosl.org.au. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Lord mayor's Show" (PDF). The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. 12 November 2005. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  9. ^ "Queen's Birthday Honours List 2015". Guardian.
  10. ^ Seib, Christine. "Business big shot: Sir David Brewer," The Times (London). 3 February 2007.
  11. ^ "Former Lord Mayor and London market "champion" Sir David Brewer dies". The Insurer. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  12. ^ "No. 55513". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 1999. p. 3.
  13. ^ "No. 58196". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 30 December 2006. p. 1.
  14. ^ a b Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA): 2007 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals, p. 3
  15. ^ "No. 61092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2014. p. N4.
  16. ^ Benet.Coulber (18 May 2016). "Appointments of Knights Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter". The Royal Family.
  17. ^ Honorary Graduates: Sir David Brewer (LLD) - website of the University of Exeter
  18. ^ Press releases 2013: Recognising exceptional achievement - website of the University of Nottingham
  19. ^ "Honours and Awards". The London Gazette. 17 August 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2023.

Sources

External links

Civic offices Preceded bySir Michael Savory Lord Mayor of London 2005–2006 Succeeded bySir John Stuttard Honorary titles Preceded byThe Lord Imbert Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London 2008–2015 Succeeded bySir Ken Olisa
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