Sir Eric Dancer (born 17 April 1940)
is a British businessman and formerly
Lord-Lieutenant of Devon.
Biography
Dancer was born in Sheffield in 1940. He won a scholarship to
King Edward VII School and went on to
Sheffield Polytechnic
Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) is a public research university in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The university is based on two sites; the City Campus is located in the city centre near Sheffield railway station, while the Collegiate C ...
where he became a graduate of the Chartered Institute of Management and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. After moving to Devon in 1980 he attained the Diploma in Company Direction at
Exeter University
, mottoeng = "We Follow the Light"
, established = 1838 - St Luke's College1855 - Exeter School of Art1863 - Exeter School of Science 1955 - University of Exeter (received royal charter)
, type = Public
, ...
.
His career has been in industry, with over 30 years at Board level of which the last 20 were as Managing Director of
Dartington Crystal, prior to his retirement in 2000.
He was the founding Chairman of Devon and Cornwall Training and Enterprise Council, the TEC National Council, the West Country Development Corporation, served as a National TEC Assessor, Advisor to the Secretary of State for Employment, Member of the National Training Task Force, Member of the Councils of the CBI and Royal Society of Arts and as a Governor of the University of Plymouth.
In 1998 he was appointed Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Devon (a post which he held until 2015), and a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John and Justice of the Peace.
In 2001 he received an Honorary Doctorate from
Sheffield Hallam University and in 2002 was commissioned Honorary Captain Royal Naval Reserve.
Honorary Doctorates of Law and Business were conferred by Exeter and Plymouth Universities respectively in 2010.
He is a Freeman of the City of London, Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers, Life Member of the Royal Society of Arts, President, Patron or Trustee of some 20 Charities in Devon, Chairman of the Magistrates Advisory Committee for Devon and Cornwall and Devon County President of The Reserve Forces and Cadets.
Dancer lives in South Devon with his wife Carole and having given up flying light aeroplanes, gliders and sailing now, in what little free time he has, enjoys music, reading, current affairs and world travel, having visited all 7 continents.
Honours and awards
*15 June 1991 - Dancer was appointed
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...
(CBE) in 1991 for services to business and training.
*20 January 1999 - Promoted to a Knight of the
Order of St. John (K.stJ)
*15 June 2013 - Dancer was appointed a
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for his work as Lord-Lieutenant.
Honorary Doctorate
Sir Eric Dancer was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business from
Plymouth University and Honorary Doctor of Laws from Exeter University in 2010.
Footnotes
External links
Sheffield Hallam link
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dancer, Eric
1940 births
Living people
Alumni of Sheffield Hallam University
Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Lord-Lieutenants of Devon
People educated at King Edward VII School, Sheffield
Royal Naval Reserve personnel