Latest Press Release
New Chief Executive for Dumfries House Trust
23rd August 2007
Clarence House today announced the appointment of Tom Hamilton as interim Chief Executive of the Dumfries House Trust. Mr Hamilton, 51, will act as interim Chief Executive of the charity, which is in the process of being established, to manage the house and its estate.
HRH The Prince of Wales who, as head of a consortium including The Prince’s Charities Foundation, the Scottish government, The Art Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation, The Monument Trust, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and SAVE Britain’s Heritage, played a key role in saving Dumfries House for the Nation, will be President of the new Trust.
Mr Hamilton has a wide range of experience of running and developing historic buildings, including the Gleneagles Hotel, Sedbury Park in Chepstow and The Piccadilly Hotel in London, giving him the experience to oversee the preparation of one of the UK’s most important 18th century classical houses and its land for public opening. It is hoped that the House will be open to the public in the Summer of 2008.
Tom Hamilton said, “I am delighted to be part of this project. For me it represents a one off opportunity to be involved in something hugely significant for Scotland, and Ayrshire in particular. I am very much looking forward to working with everyone involved.”
Dumfries House, in East Ayrshire, was designed by the Adam brothers and is internationally renowned for its unique collection of furniture originally bought for the house and made by Thomas Chippendale and contemporary Edinburgh furniture makers. The House has been purchased to preserve for the Nation a unique part of its heritage and to provide a centre for education, appreciation and enjoyment of art, architecture and the countryside.
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