Interview with Major General Jonathan Shaw, CB, CBE (S 70-75)

One of the many benefits of the OS Club is the opportunity to meet remarkable people and hear their stories of life and work. In July we visited Major General Jonathan Shaw – a twinkly eyed man with a sharp wit. In the serenity of his garden, he told us about his career at the heart of military operations.

Commissioned into the Parachute Regiment in 1981, he served in several operational roles, including deployments to Northern Ireland, the Falklands, and the Balkans. He later commanded the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, where he had the “fantastic experience” of leading 600 paratroopers. Respected for his resilience in high-pressure environments, Jonathan was appointed Director of Special Forces in 2003, taking charge of counter-terrorism at the Ministry of Defence during a time of national crisis that included the fuel protests, the foot and mouth outbreak and the aftermath of 9/11. A revered figure in the military, he held many high-profile positions, culminating in his appointment as the British Army’s first Head of the Defence Cyber Security Programme in 2011.

Watch our interview with Major General Jonathan Shaw to hear his story — including:

• Finding happiness in the hills of Sedbergh
• Why the School sets you up for life in a multiplicity of ways
• Key advice for current pupils