The Handel House Trust has announced that Penelope, Viscountess Cobham CBE, will become its Chairman in September. The Handel House Trust looks after the London homes of the great composer G.F. Handel and rock legend Jimi Hendrix, which it opens to the public as Handel Hendrix House.
Lady Cobham is Chairman of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Deputy Chairman of the UK-St Helena Trust (formerly the British Napoleonic Bicentenary Trust), and a member the President’s Impact Forum of the not-for-profit, non-partisan policy research organisation Rand Europe. She became a Trustee of The Handel House Trust in July 2024 and was subsequently elected Chairman by her fellow Trustees.
Lady Cobham chaired VisitEngland, the national tourist board, until 2016, having previously been Deputy Chairman of VisitBritain. She has worked as a Special Adviser on heritage and tourism to the Culture Secretary and served on the boards of English Heritage, the V&A, Historic Royal Palaces, the Museums and Galleries Commission, the Historic Houses (Association), the Countryside Commission and the London Docklands Development Corporation amongst other roles. She was Chairman of the Museum Prize Trust for 20 years and chaired the Civic Trust.
For two decades Lady Cobham opened to the public her Grade I Georgian home, Hagley Hall, and developed a flourishing business. She recently completed work advising on the restoration of a major Grade I London house in Bedford Square and co-authored two books related to Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 2014 she was awarded the CBE for services to tourism.
She was Deputy Chairman of Pagefield Communications and was Chairman of Heart Midlands Radio, sitting also on the board of Heart London. She has worked as Director General of The 5% Club, encouraging employers to develop more apprenticeships. She has also worked as adviser to Ernst & Young (EY), Farrer & Co and Citi Private Bank.
Lady Cobham will succeed Simon Weil, who will retire after nine years as Chairman and more than 25 years’ involvement with the Trust. During Simon’s tenure as Chairman, the Trust weathered the impact of COVID 19 and delivered the £3million Hallelujah Project, which fully restored Handel’s home, created new exhibitions and improved access at Handel Hendrix House. Simon will remain closely involved with the Trust as Patron.
Lady Cobham joins at an exciting time for the Trust as it looks to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original opening of the museum with events in 2025 and 2026.
Lady Cobham said: “I am excited and honoured to become Chairman of The Handel House Trust. Handel Hendrix House is a gem of a museum. With beautifully restored Georgian interiors, a flamboyant 1960s flat, live music, events and storytelling by our wonderful volunteers, the museum is a fascinating and important part of our musical heritage and London life. I am indebted to Simon Weil for his excellent stewardship of the charity and the delivery of the Hallelujah Project. I look forward to working with the Trustees, staff and volunteers to shape the next chapter in the museum’s story.”
