New Chief Executive & Club Secretary

At the time of writing this article, I will have yet to take up post but by the time this Summer Journal drops on your doorstep, I will have been ‘in the Chair’ for 6 weeks. Therefore, I thought it would be helpful to share a little about my background and what brought me to The Farmers Club.

A Welshman, originally from Penarth, near Cardiff, my parents and sister still live in South Glamorgan. I have fond memories of childhood days spent on the beach in West Wales and headland walks in Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire or visiting my uncle’s farm in Cardiganshire, all too sadly now gone. was educated in the Cotswolds, attending Cheltenham College and it was here that the seeds were sown for my lifelong love of the area; it was also at school that I acquired the nick-name ‘Didi’. How I acquired the name is something of a long story but it has stood the test of time, ‘surviving’ through university and my subsequent 33 years of military service. After graduating from Royal Holloway and Bedford New College with a degree in Biology, I decided to join the British Army. Following a period of officer training and education at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, joined my local infantry regiment, the Royal Regiment of Wales which was later amalgamated to become The Royal Welsh.

I was extremely privileged to command soldiers on many operational deployments overseas, most notably with the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh. I also worked hand-in-hand with the armed forces of other countries across Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, to build their capacity and capabilities. I also worked at the heart of a major transformational programme to establish the Strategic Command, a new 30,000 personnel organisation. Whilst serving at the Ministry of Defence, only a short ‘stones-throw’ from The Club, I supported Ministers and senior officials across Whitehall.

Aside from relishing a host of challenges, the aspect I found most rewarding in my military career was the broad spectrum of people I worked alongside. Commanding the men and women of our Armed Forces was a real honour and I was privileged to work with an amazing group of dedicated people. They always went the extra mile, delivering beyond my expectations, no matter what the challenge.

Military life did bring a sometimes turbulent family existence. I now live with my wife, Liane, in the Cotswold village of Painswick, a rural farming community in Gloucestershire, which is also in striking distance of family in South Wales. Liane has lived in the local area for most of her life, we were married in the village and she is now a busy Marketing Manager to a local estate agent. I am incredibly lucky to have a blended family of five children:

Apart from an ongoing (never ending!) home renovation with Liane, I love to spend time in the countryside, which coupled with a love of long distance running, makes living in Painswick a blessing. I continue to support my regiment as the Vice Chairman of ‘Firing Line’ the Museum of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards and The Royal Welsh in Cardiff Castle, and remain an active member of the Regimental Committee. I recently ‘hung up my boots’ as a rugby referee but I’m still occasionally seen in the Shed at Kingsholm Stadium, supporting Gloucester as my locally ‘adopted’ rugby club.

So why The Farmers Club?

Leaving the military provided the opportunity to reflect on a career steeped in tradition and dedication in service to others and to think hard on second career opportunities. wanted to take the knowledge, skills, experience and behaviours that I accrued in the military and prove myself in a new and challenging appointment. Therefore, I am absolutely thrilled to have been selected to be your next Chief Executive and Club Secretary.

I would describe myself as a resourceful and empathic experienced leader and will be seeking to make a significant contribution in all aspects of life at The Club. I’ll be an omnipresent and approachable senior figure, at times overt and engaging and at others akin to a chameleon blending into the background. I am passionate about people, experienced at improving individual and team performance and a firm believer that an essential component of any enterprise is to ensure a collegiate, happy, inclusive, and professional working environment. I know that my values align with those of the Farmers Club and I can make a valuable contribution, balancing the need for innovation whilst reinforcing the traditions and values of The Club.

On arrival I’ll be busy meeting as many of you as possible and understanding the detail of The Club’s operation. I have also agreed with the Chairman and Chairman of Trustees that will provide an initial 3-month report following my arrival. The findings from someone new to the organisation, should add real value and assist in The Club’s development, provide input to the 2024 financial plan and help to confirm priorities for the short term. I am arriving at a Club in great shape and I am indebted to the current team and in particular to Andrei Spence, who has been a most excellent Club Secretary. He handled the challenges of the pandemic years with aplomb and has been at the helm of The Club’s post-Covid revival. I wish Andrei and his wife, Alison, all the very best for the future.

I look forward to working closely with the excellent Club team and making myself known to you all either in The Club or out on engagements and activities across the country in the coming months.

Didi Wheeler Chief Executive & Club Secretary secretary@thefarmersclub.com 020 7930 3751