A PORTRAIT of the last field marshal to be appointed to the British Army has been unveiled at a museum in the region.

The full-length portrait of Field Marshal the Rt Hon Lord Peter Inge KG GCB DL has been commissioned by the Green Howards to mark Lord Inge's long association with the regiment.

The painting was unveiled at the regimental museum in Richmond during a reception attended by a number of guests, including the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Lord Crathorne and Lady Crathorne, Lord and Lady Gisborough, the Marquess of Zetland, the Rt Hon William Hague MP and Mrs Hague, Major General J N R Houghton and Mrs Houghton, Brigadier A P Farquhar and Canon Richard Cooper, Regimental Chaplain.

The portrait was painted by June Mendoza, one the UK's leading portrait painter.

Ms Mendoza said: "We had quite a few sittings for the picture and we got on very well - he is very jolly. I have done a number of portraits for Army regiments, though they are usually members of the royal family."

Lord Inge was commissioned into the Green Howards in 1956, and was Colonel of the regiment from 1982 to 1994.

In 1994, Lord Inge was promoted to Field Marshal and became Chief of the Defence Staff until 1997.

Published: 10/05/2004