GWR manager Paul Gentleman of Swindon made Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire

On Saturday 2 May 2026, Swindon24 reported that Paul Gentleman, who is based in Swindon and lives in Old Town, had been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Wiltshire.

Mr Gentleman was Deputy Head of External Communications at Great Western Railway (GWR). He was invited to take up the role by Dame Sarah Troughton, the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, and was to support her in representing the King across the county.

He said of the invitation: "I have to say, I'm extremely honoured, extremely privileged and extremely humbled by the invitation."

Who is Paul Gentleman?

According to the report, he joined GWR in 2015 as Communications Manager before moving into his later role. Before that he worked in branding and marketing on rail projects and national campaigns.

He played a central part in organising "Poppies to Paddington", a remembrance initiative in which wreaths were carried by train to London. "It was something that was born out of Covid when we were all asked to remember from home," he said. Queen Camilla took part in the initiative.

In 2019 he was part of a delegation to the White House, where a model GWR train named after 9/11 hero Rick Rescorla was presented to the then US President.

The report described him as a supporter of Swindon's independent businesses. He urged people to "get out there and support your local economies", and said he was looking forward to "serving the county… and obviously His Majesty the King".

Source: Swindon24.