Paul Nicholson (industrialist)

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Sir Paul Douglas Nicholson (b. 7 March 1938) is an English industrialist and current (2007) Lord Lieutenant of County Durham.

Sir Paul was born in Co. Durham and educated at Harrow School and Clare College, Cambridge. Between Harrow and Cambridge, he was commissioned during National Service in The Coldstream Guards. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, he joined Vaux Breweries in 1965 and, from 1976 until 1999, he was Chairman of the Vaux Group, one of the most successful companies in the North East of England.

He was Chairman of the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation throughout its existence (1987-1998) and also served as Chairman of the Northern Region of CBI (1977–1979), Chairman of the Brewers and Licenced Retailers Association, formerly the Brewers Society (1994–1996), and in 1995 he became the inaugural President of the Northeast Chamber of Commerce.

In his youth he was a prominent amateur rider twice winning the Liverpool Foxhunters steeplechase in 1963 and 1965. Later he was President of the Coaching Club (1990–1997).^[1]

In 1980 he was appointed High Sheriff of County Durham and since 1997 has been Lord Lieutenant. He has published an autobiography entitled "Brewer at Bay".

Sir Paul is married to Sarah Bacon, daughter of Sir Edmund Bacon, 13th and 14th Baronet, the premier baronet in the United Kingdom. They have one daughter, Lucy (b. 1972).