The Buckinghamshire Foundation
Unit 4, Farmbrough Close
Stocklake Park
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire
HP20 1DQ
Tel: 01296 330134

Sir Nigel Mobbs, KStJ JP was appointed Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire in 1997, and in 1998 he took the first steps to create The Buckinghamshire Foundation of which he became the President and was the most generous benefactor. His untimely death in 2005 has robbed the County of a powerful advocate and active supporter of all the charitable and voluntary organisations within Buckinghamshire.

Sir Nigel was born on September 22 1937 and educated at Marlborough and Christ Church Oxford. After training with the surveying partnership of Hillier Parker he joined Slough Estates, the property company founded by his grandfather, where he became Chairman in 1976. When Sir Nigel died he was also the Chairman of Bovis Homes and Chairman of the Trustees of Historic Royal Palaces. He had also been the Chairman and Non-Executive Director of a number of publicly quoted companies and other organisations.

Nigel Mobbs became involved in the charitable and voluntary sector in Buckinghamshire long before his appointment as Lord Lieutenant. He was the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 1982 when he led a drive to raise the funds on behalf of the University of Buckingham, of which he was a council member and Chairman for 11 years. Sir Nigel was also a governor of Stowe School, Patron of the Buckinghamshire Association of Boys' Clubs and a Knight of the Order of St John.

The formation of The Buckinghamshire Foundation is seen as one of the most significant achievements of his Lieutenancy. Following two years of research and fundraising, The Buckinghamshire Foundation was launched in 2000 and in that year the Foundation made grants of £16,000. Five years later the Foundation passed the £1million mark in making grants in Buckinghamshire. Of course Sir Nigel would be the first to recognise the enthusiastic and generous support the Foundation has received from its staff, the Trustees, the Grants Committees and most important of all The Friends of the Buckinghamshire Foundation. Individuals and companies have been swift to follow the leadership of Sir Nigel without whose encouragement and patronage the Foundation would not exist.

Sir Nigel was an immensely tall man and could appear to be intimidating but behind the bluff, forthright and decisive exterior was a lively sense of humour and a fondness for practical jokes. His firmness, common sense and wisdom was much admired and appreciated by all those organisations that he touched. It was quite remarkable that, despite the enormous scope and breadth of his interests and responsibilities, he always knew more than you did about what was going on and was unfailingly available whenever it was necessary to be in touch. He worked a room as professionally as the most experienced politician and always had a word for everyone. He was supported in all his activities by Lady Mobbs and by exceptionally loyal staff.

It is difficult to sum up the legacy of a man who did so much for so many. We in The Buckinghamshire Foundation will miss him greatly. Let us hope that the memory of Sir Nigel Mobbs will provide a beacon to light the steps of those who follow and to encourage us all to do our best to improve and strengthen the community in which we live and work.

Martin Jourdan
(Patron)