CORNISH conservation, research and education charity The National Lobster Hatchery, based in Padstow, has appointed three new trustees including world champion rower and Olympic gold medallist Ed Coode.

Ed studied marine biology at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He then trained in law at the University of the West of England and with Bristol company, Burges Salmon before joining his family’s law firm where he now practices private client law from its St Austell office.

The other new trustees are Rob Clifford-Wing and Lord St Levan.

Mr Clifford-Wing established Wing of St Mawes in the 1980s, which has earned a reputation for supplying seafood to the UK’s top chefs, hotels and restaurants. He also chairs the Harbour Commission of Cornwall’s Newlyn.

Lord St Levan said: ‘My initial interest in the NLH was stimulated by their extensive programme to replenish the lobster population off the Cornish coast.

‘However, I have since discovered how much more there is to the Hatchery’s work, especially in terms of the breadth and variety of its ground-breaking scientific research, which positions this pioneering charity as a global leader in its field.’