Loyd Grossman is Chair of the Royal Parks and Chair of the Royal Society of Arts. He was born in Boston in 1950 and graduated from Boston University (BA), the London School of Economics (MSc Econ) and Magdalene College, Cambridge (PhD, MPhil). He began writing for various music publications- including... Read more
Loyd Grossman is Chair of the Royal Parks and Chair of the Royal Society of Arts. He was born in Boston in 1950 and graduated from Boston University (BA), the London School of Economics (MSc Econ) and Magdalene College, Cambridge (PhD, MPhil).
He began writing for various music publications- including Rolling Stone, Fusion, and Vibrations- while an undergraduate. After starting a full-time career in journalism with Harpers & Queen and the Sunday Times he was diverted into television where as a writer, presenter or deviser he was involved in a wide range of programmes including Through the Keyhole, MasterChef, Behind the Headlines, History of British Sculpture, Loyd on Location and Build Britain, He also wrote and presented a series, Composers at Home, for Radio 3.
Loyd’s knowledge of and fascination with food led him to create his own brand in 1995, which became Britain’s most successful new premium food brand.
His lifelong interest in history, the arts and heritage has involved him in a number of organisations. He is a former Commissioner of the Museums and Galleries Commission, a former Commissioner of English Heritage (where he was Chairman of the Museums Advisory Committee and the Blue Plaques Panel), a former Commissioner of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, a founding member of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, a past member of the board of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, a former Governor of Compton Verney and a past Member of the Council of the British School at Rome, past Chairman of National Museums Liverpool and of the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association, past Deputy Chairman of Liverpool European Capital of Culture and past President of the British Association of Friends of Museums.
Loyd was Chair of Gresham College from 2019-2024, Chairman of the Heritage Alliance from 2009-2018, Chairman of the Churches Conservation Trust from 2007-2016, Chairman of the University for the Creative Arts from 2008-2012, Deputy Chairman of The Royal Drawing School from 2014-2017, a Governor of The British Institute of Florence, a member of the Court of Governors of the LSE from 1996-2009, and is now an Emeritus Governor of the LSE. He is a trustee of Opera Holland Park
He is Master of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars, an Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Loyd was appointed OBE in 2003 and was awarded a Doctor of Letters degree in 2007 by the University of Chester in recognition of his heritage work. In January 2011 the University of Lincoln awarded him an honorary Doctor of Arts degree in recognition of his contribution to the cultural heritage sector and in October 2014 the University of Essex awarded Loyd an honorary Doctor of the University in recognition of his contribution to tourism and hospitality. Following his appointment to CBE in 2015 in recognition of his services to Heritage, Loyd was appointed Knight Bachelor in December 2024.
Loyd is a keen guitarist and he and his band – The New Forbidden – made their eighth appearance at Glastonbury in June 2019. He plays with Jethro Tull in their annual Christmas cathedral concerts.