Chair of Trustees appointed

The American Museum & Gardens welcomes Thomas Sheppard DL as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees today. Thomas succeeds Gareth Thomas, who was appointed to the role in 2019 and appointed Executive Chair in 2022. Gareth is now Director of the Museum, until a new Director is appointed later in the year.

Thomas Sheppard DL, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the American Museum & Gardens

Thomas Sheppard is a practising solicitor who has held both professional and management roles in a major regional law firm, including over ten years as the Managing Partner.

Alongside his professional life, Thomas has been actively involved with charities and not for profit organisations; this is usually as a trustee and often as the chair. These charities have followed his interests and include arts-based charities, health care organisations, and heritage.

Thomas spent over ten years on the Council of Management at the University of Bath including four years as the Chair and chaired the Bath Preservation Trust which runs four museums in the city.

He is currently the chair of mental health charity, Bath City Farm, and is a member of both the PCC of Bath Abbey and the Chapter of Wells Cathedral.

Thomas was the 960th High Sheriff of Somerset and sits on the national Council of the High Sheriffs’ Association of England and Wales.

He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset in 2022.

He lives in the Bath area with his wife Michelle, he has two sons and a granddaughter.