1. David Leakey was Director General of the European Union Military Staff in the Council of the European Union, Brussels.
26 Facts About David Leakey
1. 2.
David Leakey is related to the Victoria Cross recipient Joshua Leakey.
3.
David Leakey's commission was confirmed on 1 July 1974 with seniority from 1 February 1971.
4.
David Leakey was promoted to lieutenant on 1 July 1974 with seniority from 1 February 1973, and to captain on 1 August 1977.
5.
David Leakey served in the UK, Northern Ireland, Germany, Bosnia and in Canada in armoured vehicles and in tanks.
6.
David Leakey was appointed Chief of Staff at 7th Armoured Brigade, Military Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff and then Commanding Officer of the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.
7.
David Leakey was promoted to colonel on 31 December 1993 with seniority from 30 June 1993.
8.
David Leakey was then posted to the Ministry of Defence as a Colonel Military Operations.
9.
David Leakey was promoted to brigadier on 31 December 1995 with seniority from 30 June 1995.
10.
David Leakey was appointed Commander of 20th Armoured Brigade in Germany in 1996.
11.
David Leakey returned to the Ministry of Defence as Director of Military Operations from July 1997 to December 1999.
12.
In 2000, David Leakey attended the Royal College of Defence Studies.
13.
David Leakey was Chief of Staff at Headquarters Northern Ireland from February to December 2001.
14.
David Leakey was promoted to major general on 15 December 2001.
15.
David Leakey was promoted to lieutenant general on 28 February 2007.
16.
David Leakey was appointed as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in the House of Lords from February 2011 to December 2017.
17.
In early 2020 David Leakey argued strongly against former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow being appointed to the House of Lords, accusing him of bullying and explosive behaviour.
18.
Shadow Home Secretary and Member of Parliament Diane Abbott has defended Bercow, stating that as a military man, David Leakey was "unlikely to have been bullied by Bercow".
19.
Since retiring as Black Rod, David Leakey has undertaken public speaking engagements including media appearances on radio and TV.
20.
David Leakey was chairman of the National Children's Orchestra, but he resigned in June 2014.
21.
David Leakey has been a member of the Parliament Choir.
22.
David Leakey was appointed a Governor of Sherborne School and Sherborne School Group in 2018 and chairman in July 2020.
23.
David Leakey is a trustee of numerous other Charitable and not for profit organisations.
24.
David Leakey enjoys classical music, playing squash, tennis, golf, most field sports, and chain sawing.
25.
David Leakey was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Tank Regiment from 21 August 2006 to 30 July 2010 and previously Deputy Colonel Commandant since 16 July 1999.
26.
David Leakey was Honorary Colonel of the Dorset Yeomanry Squadron of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry until September 2024, and Dorset Army Cadet Force as well as Colonel of Cadet Force Music.