| Administrative History | Barry Lewis (b 1971) was elected as a Derbyshire county councillor for the Conservative Party in 2009, serving the Wingerworth and Shirland district. Elected as Conservative Group leader in May 2014, he became leader of Derbyshire County Council after May 2017 county election, with strategic responsibility for Leadership, Culture, Tourism and Climate Climate. He previously served as Cabinet Member for Young People, 2010-2013, as well as serving as a Councillor for North East Derbyshire District Council since 2011.
Before entering local politics, Lewis spent 20 years as an archaeologist and researcher, having graduated from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David with a BA in Environment and Archaeology and completing an MA in Archaeology and Heritage Management at the University of Leicester. He established Amber Valley Wines in 2011, with the first vintage released in May 2015 and since 2013 has also run a small holiday cottage business in Belper. He has published two books:
- 'Hunting in Britain: From the Ice Age to the Present' (The History Press, 2009)
- 'Hill of the Boar', a novel set in Pentrich and published under the pseudonym Benjamin B Lewis (self-published via CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012)
Lewis has served on a wide range of other bodies, including the Local Government Association Culture, Tourism and Sport Board (2014-), Creswell Heritage Trust (Chair until May 2013) and working as a Constituency Officer for Andrew Lewer, MEP (2014-2017). He was Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Vineyards Association (now WineGB) - a national association for the English and Welsh wine industry.
Sources:
- Councillor Barry Lewis Personal Profile on the Derbyshire County Council Democracy website, https://democracy.derbyshire.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=154, accessed 16 November 2022.
- LinkedIn profile, https://uk.linkedin.com/in/barry-lewis-6703585a, accessed 16 November 2022. |
| Custodial History | These records were deposited in Derbyshire Record Office by Councillor Lewis in November 2022. |