The Family and Trustees are delighted to welcome Celia Deeley as the new Estate Manager at Wormsley.

Celia joins the Estate from Holkham in Norfolk, where she spent 10 successful years as General Manager, overseeing the visitor operations across the 25,000-acre estate. During her tenure, she was responsible for developing and delivering the strategic plan to position Holkham as one of the leading visitor attraction destinations in the UK.

Prior to Holkham, Celia’s career highlights within the heritage sector include her post as Visitor Manager at Althorp House & Park (assisting in the unique experience of delivering the award-winning Diana: A Celebration exhibition) and her role as Operations Director at Woburn Abbey and Safari Park, with responsibility for over 600,000 visitors each year. Before joining Woburn, Celia also enjoyed 4 years at The National Trust as Regional Customer Services Manager and 2 years at English Heritage as Visitor Operations Director for the East.

At Wormsley, Celia will lead an experienced team in shaping the next chapter of the 2,700-acre private estate, nestled in the Chiltern Hills between High Wycombe and Oxford, and which has been home to the Getty family since Sir Paul Getty acquired it in 1985. Guests to Wormsley enjoy the highly acclaimed Garsington Opera, the world-famous Cricket ground (recently voted “One of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the World”), the internationally-renowned Wormsley Library, the private Wormsley Shoot and the Penelope Hobhouse-designed two-acre Walled Garden (recently featured in ‘The English Garden’ magazine). Over the last few years, Wormsley has hosted a number of events and experiences, ranging from curated days for private groups & individuals to bespoke events for select corporate organisations and celebrations for the likes of the Aston Martin Owners Club.

Alexander Getty says “We are delighted to welcome Celia and her family to Wormsley. She joins the Estate at the perfect time, as we look to the future and begin the process of shaping how Wormsley will continue to evolve and adapt in the current environment.” He continues, “her background and experience speak for themselves, and coupled with her strategic thinking and infectious levels of energy, drive and determination, I am confident that Wormsley is in safe hands as we move forwards towards what is an exciting future.”
Alexander will continue to pioneer and drive the sustainability agenda for the Estate – an area that the Family sees as one of its primary responsibilities as custodians of this historic Estate, first mentioned in the Charter of 1106.

Celia says “I’m delighted to be joining at this time. I’m inspired and excited by the vision the Family has for Wormsley – balancing their role as guardians of a traditional and private English estate, whilst ensuring that we build on the world-class cornerstones that have established Wormsley as a special place (or a ‘hidden jewel’ as Wormsley is often described by people experiencing the estate for the first time), over the last 30 years. During my first few weeks, I have been hugely impressed by the experience and knowledge that exists within the different teams and I very much look forward to leading the wider Estate on the next stage of its journey.”