A PROMINENT businessman has been installed as president of the County Durham branch of one of Britain's oldest military charities.

Oxford-born Peter Catesby, 61, has accepted an invitation to take a key role in the work of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (Ssafa) Forces Help.

The father-of-two's appointment coincides with Ssafa's nomination as one of the six charities to benefit from the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Catesby, who lives in Sedgefield, County Durham, came to the region in 1973 as general manager of the Swallow Hotels Division of Vaux and Associated Breweries.

He became the first managing director of Swallow Hotels Limited in 1975 when it became a company in its own right and after Vaux Inns Limited was set up in 1988, took on the additional role of chairman.

In 1999, he was appointed chief executive and deputy chairman of the Swallow Group plc and chairman of Swallow Hotels Limited.

Mr Catesby's military interests led him to joining the Territorial Army in 1958 as an officer cadet, and he was commissioned two years later.

He is an honorary colonel of the 7th (Durham) Battalion The Light Infantry and vice chairman of the North of England Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Association.

He said: "It is an honour to be made president of Ssafa in County Durham, where caseworkers provide vital help and support to about 1,000 service and ex-service personnel every year."