Simon Brooks-Ward

Major General Simon Howe Brooks-Ward, CVO, OBE, TD, VR, is a British event organiser and Army Reserve officer who served as Deputy Commander Field Army from October 2015 to January 2018. Through his company, The HPower Group, he is most well known for organising large-scale equestrian events worldwide.[1] Brooks-Ward is now Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets) as of 2019.[2]

Simon Brooks-Ward
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1987–present
RankMajor General
UnitRoyal Yeomanry
Commands heldRoyal Yeomanry
Battles/warsIraq War 2003
AwardsCommander of the Royal Victorian Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Territorial Decoration
Volunteer Reserves Service Medal

Military career

Brooks-Ward was commissioned into the Royal Yeomanry on 4 October 1987.[3] 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.[4][5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8][9]

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.[10]

In addition, Brooks-Ward was the Equestrian Adviser at the 2004 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, and the site selection and feasibility plans for London 2012, the 2008 TA100 National Pageant, the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo, the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Pageant,[11] and the BAFTA Award Winning Queen's 90th Birthday Celebrations at Windsor. The HPower Group was the delivery company for the three First World War 100 year anniversary Commemorations; 2015 at St Symphorien Cemetery, Mons, 2016 Somme, and 2017 Passchendaele Commemorations. His involvement in many British state ceremonial occasions led to him being honoured as a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 2002.[12] 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.[13]

He was involved in organising national celebrations for the Queen's 90th birthday in May 2016.[14]

Honours and decorations
  • Brooks-Ward has received the following honours and decorations during his military career.
RibbonDescriptionNotes
Royal Victorian Order (CVO)
Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Iraq Medal
  • With Clasp "19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003"
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
  • 2002
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • 2012
Territorial Decoration (TD)
  • 2004
Volunteer Reserves Service Medal

References
  1. Biography Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD Archived 15 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine from HorsePower International website.
  2. "Army Reserve Regional RD Staff Appointments 2019". army.mod.uk. British Army. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2019. ACDS (Reserves & Cadets) Maj Gen Simon Brooks-Ward is looking to appoint a suitably qualified officer as his ADC.
  3. "No. 51399". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 July 1988. p. 7704.
  4. Biography Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD Archived 15 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine from HorsePower International website.
  5. Lusher, Adam (20 April 2008). "Welcoming the troops at the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  6. "No. 57665". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 June 2005. p. 5.
  7. Biography Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD Archived 15 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine from HorsePower International website.
  8. The Daily Telegraph (London), 2015, Senior army appointment, SECTION: FEATURES; Pg. 32, The Daily Telegraph (London), 24 August 2015.
  9. "No. 61398". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 November 2015. p. 21527.
  10. Biography Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD Archived 15 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine from HorsePower International website.
  11. Lusher, Adam (20 April 2008). "Welcoming the troops at the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  12. "No. 56654". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 August 2002. p. 2.
  13. Biography Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD Archived 15 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine from HorsePower International website.
  14. 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.
Military offices
Preceded by
Ranald Munro		 Deputy Commander Field Army (Reserves)
2015–2018		 Succeeded by
William O'Leary
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