DAVID Shaw is the Army's new boss in the North West.

Brigadier Shaw has taken command of 42 (NW) Brigade, which has its headquarters at Fulwood Barracks, Preston.

His appointment follows the recent retirement of Brigadier Jeremy Gaskell.

The 49-year-old father of three was educated at Allhallows in Dorset and commissioned from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, into The Devon and Dorset Regiment. He will command all Army units - regular and territorial - in Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire.

Brigadier Shaw has served in the UK, Belize, Northern Ireland and Cyprus as an anti-tank officer.

His career has spanned almost 25 years. His roles have included chief of staff at HQ Eastern District in Colchester between 1989 and 1992.

He is also Deputy Colonel of the Devon and Dorset Regiment and chairman of the Regimental Association.

He has been married for 26 years and is a keen sportsman whose main hobbies are game shooting and cricket.

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