Live ChatStephen Oxlade was raised in Kenya. He was commissioned into the Gloucestershire Regiment (now amalgamated into The Rifles) in 1973. He has served in most operational areas around the world, commanded a Reserve Battalion and undertook some specialist technical appointments. His last two assignments in the Army were Garrison Commander Aldershot and Garrison Commander Dhekelia, Cyprus.
He retired from the Army early in 2007 to become Chief Executive of South East Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association which included raising the profile of the Reserve and Cadet Forces and being responsible for the volunteer and cadet estate throughout South East England. In 2014 he retired from that to form an IT company which continues to this day.
He has been Chair of his Regimental Association and a trustee of a number of charities. He is currently a trustee of the Gloucestershire Regiment Museum Trust and SSAFA.
He is married to Janet and they live near Warminster, Wiltshire. He is a committed Bath Rugby supporter, a gadget aficionado and an ever-hopeful fly fisherman.